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Back in the old days of Warhammer 40K, Imperial Guard players would field units of Beastmen that looked identical to the Beastmen in Warhammer Fantasy Battle. The current edition allows players to use mutants in Imperial Guard armies, but discourages those that look too much like Chaos Beastmen. I rather prefer the idea of Beastmen straddling the thin line between Chaos and the Imperium.

Warhammer 40,000 is the intellectual property of Games Workshop.


Blood for the Emperor!


Commissar Phokas scanned the assembled Beastman platoon. The beastmen were a fearsome lot, covered in fur with curled horns. Their cloven hooves scratched the ground impatiently and their goatlike heads growled. They looked more like the demons of ancient mythology than soldiers of the Imperium.

There were some commissars who frowned at the use of beastmen in the Imperial Guard. While Ratlings and Ogryn were generally accepted as useful, if abhuman, beastmen were prone to serve the powers of Chaos and often unrealiable. Yet it seemed to Phokas that they should at least be given the chance to prove themselves. He had also noticed that while the Beastmen lacked the brute strength of Ogryns, they made up for it with their savagery and at times, an animalistic cunning. Other commissars were entitled to their opinion, but Phokas was happy to have beastmen serve under him.


The beastmen had been kitted out in ill-fitting flak armour. They were armed with an assortment of spears, wicked-looking knives, swords and axes. Only their sergeant carried a laspistol.

"Sergeant Snaligazz reporting with platoon, sir," growled the sergeant. "We are armed and ready, sir. Teach us how we may serve the God-Emperor."

The beastmen were weak in their grasp of military formalities, but Phokas accepted their ready dutifulness.

The commissar walked up and down before the platoon, surveying the unit before addressing them.

"I see before me a pack of mutants. You are abhumans, tainted ones. The Imperium is the empire of Man. It is not for the likes of you. The Imperium is for men who are true, pure and noble. There is no true place for your kind, beastmen."

The beastmen warriors hung their heads in shame; a few of them let out unsettlingly pitiful moans. The sergeant growled at those who made a noise.

"I see your shame and you do well to acknowledge it, beastmen. You know your own unworthiness and the path to glory always begins with knowing oneself."

At the word 'glory,' many of the beastmen looked up hopefully.

"You have not joined with those of your kind who serve the forces of Chaos. You know that the path of Chaos leads only to destruction and you have chosen to seek the mercy of the God-Emperor. In that I see the echoes of what humanity is left in you."

The commissar had the full attention of the platoon.

"You may have no place in the Imperium of Man, yet the Emperor is still willing to accept the service of such as your kind. He always accepts those who are willing to kill and die in his service."

"Kill for the Emperor!" said some of the beastmen in low growls.

"You are creatures of shame, yet redemption can be found! Blood will purify you. Shed the blood of your enemies and shed your own blood. In the baptism of blood you will find your salvation. Die in the service of the Emperor and you will find his acceptance."

"Praise the Emperor!" This time, it was the sergeant who spoke out of turn, enraptured by the commissar's preaching.

"Yes indeed, praise the Emperor!" cried Phokas. "Praise him, for he is all-merciful and all-forgiving. If you will die in his service, you shall gain your humanity. It may be that you shall be reborn in true human bodies!"

The beastmen now broke out in cheers, whoops and shouts. Some roared with excitement, others wept in a bizarre show of bestial emotion.

"Earn your redemption, beastmen! Destroy our enemies! Give yourselves totally in the service of the God-Emperor. Be purified in blood!"

"Blood for the Emperor!" cried the frenzied beastmen, now shouting with one voice. "Blood for the Emperor!"

Phokas felt very pleased at the effect of his oratory. He knew many Eldar would die at the hands of these abhuman soldiers. Whatever their taint, they were worthy of the Emperor's forgiveness.

I acctualy really, really liked this. WOuld love to see more of your work

Thanks so much. I posted a story, The Brood Mass Wedding, the other day. That was about a Genestealer cult.

I don't write a lot of Warhammer 40K fiction, mainly because I'm not into writing fighting stories.

I wrote a follow-up to Blood for the Emperor!



The Emperor's Acceptance



As Commissar Phokas surveyed the fallen Eldar bodies, he heard a growl from behind him. It was the beastman, Sergeant Snaligrazz.

"We have killed lots for the Emperor, Sir," said the beastman. "But many of us are dead."

"You have fought hard, Sergeant," said the commissar.

"Malkrul is really hurt, Sir."

"Let me see him, Sergeant," Phokas commanded.

Phokas was duly led to a group of beastmen who surrounded a wounded member of their platoon.

Commissar Phokas looked down at the wounded beastman and saw a painful sight. One of the beastman's curled horns was broken and his eye swollen and closed. He was bleeding from multiple wounds. Beastmen smelled foul at the best of times, but a wounded beastman was truly an accursed stench.

Phokas contemplated summoning a medic, but he had doubts about whether the beastmen would survive long enough to receive ministrations. He also did not want to divert a medic from aiding the wounded humans. Priorities had to be made.

"Rest easy, Soldier," said Phokas.

"Soldier," murmured the beastman, as though savouring the word. Beastmen in the Imperial Guard were rarely addressed as 'soldier.' 'Beastman' was the norm, if not 'goat-head.' As far as Phokas was concerned Malkrul had earned the right to be called a soldier. As had all his beastmen comrades.

"I shed much blood for the Emperor today," said Malkrul.

"You have served well indeed. You have earned the Emperor's redemption. He accepts your sacrifice."

"Praise the Emperor!" said Malkrul, as he struggled to rise.

"You have given everything in the Emperor's service. He will receive your soul and you shall be re-born as a pure human," said the commissar.

"I shall?"

"Indeed. He accepts every soldier who gives his life in the service of humanity," said Phokas.

"Blood for the Emperor!" shouted a chorus of beastmen.

"Not now, beastmen!" said Phokas with a laugh. "The day has been won and the time for bloodshed is paused. There shall be other battles for you to fight."

"Sir, before I die, I ask that my younglings be allowed to join the guard," said Malkrul. "I have three young ones. Let them serve like I did."

The commissar nodded.

"Sergeant Snaligraz is of your herd. I shall make arrangements with him for your younglings to be inducted into the platoon."

Snaligraz growled with approval.

"Now it is time for you to receive the Emperor's Peace," said Phokas.

Phokas produced his bolt pistol and placed it against the beastman's goat-like head.

"Return to the fold of Mankind," said Phokas as he pulled the trigger.

This is an interesting piece. I always wondered how abhumans were treated in the Imperium, and this shows it well. Furthermore, this is a 40k story that managed to be remain consistently entertaining with no violence and lots of dialogue, which is quite impressive.

I agree with LoneLictor, this dose the abhumans of the Imperium well. I like your style and a big pluss for keeping it in such "civilized" tone

Thanks so much, people!