MUTANTS

**Mutants** are the millions of people across THE EMPIRE OF MANKIND  who have been deformed from the baseline Human phenotype by genetic mutation. These  mutations were caused by consuming the meat of  MANTEZ  and by the worship of the aliens.  These people are destined to become the outcasts and lower classes of Imperial society. They are shunned and are often hunted down and killed as the Empire  has little tolerance for any who deviate from the divine perfection of the baseline Human form in mind or body. Mutation is actually considered a crime against the human race by Imperial authorities because of its connection to sympathy or worship of nonhumans. Mutants are often terribly misshapen creatures, abominably deviating from the normal Human. On the other hand, not all mutants are degenerate beasts; many only bear a few extraordinary traits setting them apart from the rest of man. While many mutants are born mutated as a result of their parents exposure to mantez DNA. Those who secretly worship the mantez as Gods are known to be Heretics. They do not believe in the human race anymore and want to become a mante and so mark themselves. This is another reason that all mutants are considered suspect by the Empires authorities and are greeted as general social undesirables by almost everyone else across the Empire. Rodderians  are also considered mutants, but have been intentionally created through the use of genetic engineering in the distant past, during the early time of the Earth Space Republic . Because they are absolutely vital to the Empires ship building, weapon making, and all new technology produced they, are the only officially-tolerated form of mutants.

## Life in the Empire for Mutants

On any Imperial planet, mutants are quickly abandoned by their parents and have to learn how to take care of themselves. They are almost always the worst off people in Imperial society. It is very rare to find a world that will tolerate them and not discriminate against them. These worlds are a paradise for mutants compared to most worlds of the Imperium. Desperately seeking some form of acceptance, many mutants join rebellious cults. Most of these cults simply condemn the faults of Imperial society but others worship the mantez and plan rebellion. These cults easily corrupt mutants due to the discrimination they have suffered. On most worlds mutants are not allowed to carry weapons for fear of rebellion. The weapons they do come to possess will often be stolen military rifles.

## Mutant Rebellions and Witch Cults in the Empire

The existence of "accepted" mutant populations has always been a two-edged sword for the Empire authorities. But they represent both a problem for civil order and a ready source of rebellions, riots, and cult activity. The situation is worsened because most "normal" Imperial citizens fear the mutant as an unclean, unnatural, and inherently tainted thing, and many mutants return this hatred with interest.

Mutants are often exiled to hellish conditions such

## Imperial Hatred of Mutants

The deep Imperial hatred for mutants and deviation from the standard physical Human form is rooted in the earliest days of the Human-Mantez War.

### Humankin Index

The official document outlining the differences between Humans and mutants is the Human*kin Purebred Guide*, a text that describes the subject's deviation from the standard Human phenotype according to a system created by the Inquisition ; the more severe the mutation, the higher its threat on the Humankin Index.