SQUATS
When humans first began to explore the galaxy some of the earliest colonies were settled on the worlds towards the galactic core. At that time the mineral resources of the galactic centre were a rich prize, and thousands of specially adapted mining spacecraft set off to harvest the vast wealth of these inner planets The galactic core is characterised by extremely ancient suns which are dim in comparison with the stars of the spiral arms. Around these ancient stars orbit huge, rocky worlds, rich in minerals but in all other respects barren and lifeless. With very low levels of daylight, and extremely high gravity, these worlds are grey and cheerless, and inhospitable to life.
The original settlers were miners, and they dug homes for themselves in the rocky landscape, creating self-contained communities out of exhausted mines. To feed themselves the miners constructed hydroponic tanks to grow nutritious algae which could then be eaten or processed, and the communities quickly became self-supporting The high gravity and extremely harsh environment gradually changed the humans that lived there. They grew tougher, more resilient, and they also became shorter and squatter. This process took several thousand years, and during that time the new race began to develop its own cultural identity. When the galactic core was temporarily cut off from the rest of human society by warp storms, the inhabitants banded together into an independent confederacy which they called the Homeworlds.
It was about this time that the short, stocky race became generally known as Squats, although they are also called Dwarfs and many of them prefer this term. During this period of isolation the Homeworlds withstood all kinds of trials, from Ork invasions to the rampages of Chaos, environmental disaster and even internal war between the Squats themselves. The early settlements were enlarged and fortified to turn them into impregnable strongholds. With Earth and other sources of technology denied to them, the Squats had to develop their own alternative technologies using local materials and sources of energy. As they invented and re-invented machines to keep them alive, the Squats acquired considerable expertise. This gathering of knowledge lead to the creation of the Engineers Guild - a body of individualistic warriors whose technical expertise would provide future Squat armies with many of their most successful weapons of war.
The Squat Homeworlds have remained independent ever since, and have fought their own wars against Orks and Chaos. On occasions Squats have also fought the Imperium and Eldar, but by and large the Squats prefer to fight on the same side as humans and have no particular source of dispute with Eldar. The Squats need to trade in order to acquire items not readily available on their own worlds, and so they prefer to remain as neutral as possible. Sometimes Squat Strongholds fight each other over points of honour or valuable mining rights but such wars are usually shortlived, being brought to a halt by the invocation of ancient laws or the intercession of other Strongholds. The Homeworlds rely on the Imperium for most of their trade, but they also trade with the Eldar and have even traded with Orks in the far distant past.
The Squats hate Orks with a passion ever since the ravages of Ork Warlord Grunhag the Flayer, whose surprise invasion cost many Squat lives and wiped out several ancient Strongholds. Even today, thousands of years after the invasion, the Squats send out expeditions to try and uncover lost remnants of Strongholds believed destroyed by Grunhag’s horde. An epic ballad called The Fall of Imbach reminds younger generations of Squat warriors of the heroism of the Squats in those dark times and the foul treachery of the Ork invaders. Squats are hard-working and stubborn. They are an honourable people who take great pride in paying their debts and keeping their word, This means that they are reliable allies but very dangerous foes. If a Squat gives his word to do something he would willingly die in the attempt. Squats have two characteristics which some humans find difficult to understand,
Firstly they are very materialistic. Squats will work hard to acquire money and possessions, and the more important a Squat is, the greater his treasure hoard will be. When he dies his possessions are divided amongst his family and so passed on from generation to generation. A family’s treasure is held very dear - it is both a source of wealth and a tangible link to its honoured ancestors. The second quality which many humans find hard to understand is the Squats’ over-riding obsession with vengeance and honour. Should a Squat be slain his family is honour-bound to avenge his death, while any harm done to one family member by an unrelated Squat will bring the whole family together to exact vengeance. Squats stick together and never forget a slight no matter how trivial or unintentional. Their stories and legends abound with examples of lone warriors battling to the death against impossible odds for their family’s honour or of individuals returning from apparent death or dishonour to exact lasting and bloody revenge on their foes.
The Stronghold is the basis of Squat civilisation. A planet might have several strongholds but rarely more than half a dozen. The warriors from a Stronghold are its Brotherhoods - so called because of their close blood relationship and ties of vengeance-rights. Strongholds sometimes band together into temporary alliances called Leagues. The leader of a Stronghold is called its Lord. The leaders of a Stronghold’s Brotherhoods are called Warlords, and are usually close relations of the Lord. In battle each Warlord is accompanied by a Brotherhood, as well as his own personal bodyguard or Hearthguard. When several Strongholds from a League fight together a Grand Warlord is elected to lead the combined forces for the duration of the campaign. Election as a Grand Warlord is one of the ultimate accolades for a Squat warrior and is normally bestowed on the most honoured and revered Warlords. The Grand Warlord leads a disciplined and well armed force mostly made up of Brotherhood Warriors, but which includes fearsome weapons of war developed by the Engineers Guild.
When humans first began to explore the galaxy some of the earliest colonies were settled on the worlds towards the galactic core. At that time the mineral resources of the galactic centre were a rich prize, and thousands of specially adapted mining spacecraft set off to harvest the vast wealth of these inner planets The galactic core is characterised by extremely ancient suns which are dim in comparison with the stars of the spiral arms. Around these ancient stars orbit huge, rocky worlds, rich in minerals but in all other respects barren and lifeless. With very low levels of daylight, and extremely high gravity, these worlds are grey and cheerless, and inhospitable to life.
The original settlers were miners, and they dug homes for themselves in the rocky landscape, creating self-contained communities out of exhausted mines. To feed themselves the miners constructed hydroponic tanks to grow nutritious algae which could then be eaten or processed, and the communities quickly became self-supporting The high gravity and extremely harsh environment gradually changed the humans that lived there. They grew tougher, more resilient, and they also became shorter and squatter. This process took several thousand years, and during that time the new race began to develop its own cultural identity. When the galactic core was temporarily cut off from the rest of human society by warp storms, the inhabitants banded together into an independent confederacy which they called the Homeworlds.
It was about this time that the short, stocky race became generally known as Squats, although they are also called Dwarfs and many of them prefer this term. During this period of isolation the Homeworlds withstood all kinds of trials, from Ork invasions to the rampages of Chaos, environmental disaster and even internal war between the Squats themselves. The early settlements were enlarged and fortified to turn them into impregnable strongholds. With Earth and other sources of technology denied to them, the Squats had to develop their own alternative technologies using local materials and sources of energy. As they invented and re-invented machines to keep them alive, the Squats acquired considerable expertise. This gathering of knowledge lead to the creation of the Engineers Guild - a body of individualistic warriors whose technical expertise would provide future Squat armies with many of their most successful weapons of war.
The Squat Homeworlds have remained independent ever since, and have fought their own wars against Orks and Chaos. On occasions Squats have also fought the Imperium and Eldar, but by and large the Squats prefer to fight on the same side as humans and have no particular source of dispute with Eldar. The Squats need to trade in order to acquire items not readily available on their own worlds, and so they prefer to remain as neutral as possible. Sometimes Squat Strongholds fight each other over points of honour or valuable mining rights but such wars are usually shortlived, being brought to a halt by the invocation of ancient laws or the intercession of other Strongholds. The Homeworlds rely on the Imperium for most of their trade, but they also trade with the Eldar and have even traded with Orks in the far distant past.
The Squats hate Orks with a passion ever since the ravages of Ork Warlord Grunhag the Flayer, whose surprise invasion cost many Squat lives and wiped out several ancient Strongholds. Even today, thousands of years after the invasion, the Squats send out expeditions to try and uncover lost remnants of Strongholds believed destroyed by Grunhag’s horde. An epic ballad called The Fall of Imbach reminds younger generations of Squat warriors of the heroism of the Squats in those dark times and the foul treachery of the Ork invaders. Squats are hard-working and stubborn. They are an honourable people who take great pride in paying their debts and keeping their word, This means that they are reliable allies but very dangerous foes. If a Squat gives his word to do something he would willingly die in the attempt. Squats have two characteristics which some humans find difficult to understand,
Firstly they are very materialistic. Squats will work hard to acquire money and possessions, and the more important a Squat is, the greater his treasure hoard will be. When he dies his possessions are divided amongst his family and so passed on from generation to generation. A family’s treasure is held very dear - it is both a source of wealth and a tangible link to its honoured ancestors. The second quality which many humans find hard to understand is the Squats’ over-riding obsession with vengeance and honour. Should a Squat be slain his family is honour-bound to avenge his death, while any harm done to one family member by an unrelated Squat will bring the whole family together to exact vengeance. Squats stick together and never forget a slight no matter how trivial or unintentional. Their stories and legends abound with examples of lone warriors battling to the death against impossible odds for their family’s honour or of individuals returning from apparent death or dishonour to exact lasting and bloody revenge on their foes.
The Stronghold is the basis of Squat civilisation. A planet might have several strongholds but rarely more than half a dozen. The warriors from a Stronghold are its Brotherhoods - so called because of their close blood relationship and ties of vengeance-rights. Strongholds sometimes band together into temporary alliances called Leagues. The leader of a Stronghold is called its Lord. The leaders of a Stronghold’s Brotherhoods are called Warlords, and are usually close relations of the Lord. In battle each Warlord is accompanied by a Brotherhood, as well as his own personal bodyguard or Hearthguard. When several Strongholds from a League fight together a Grand Warlord is elected to lead the combined forces for the duration of the campaign. Election as a Grand Warlord is one of the ultimate accolades for a Squat warrior and is normally bestowed on the most honoured and revered Warlords. The Grand Warlord leads a disciplined and well armed force mostly made up of Brotherhood Warriors, but which includes fearsome weapons of war developed by the Engineers Guild.