Leagues of Votann - Cloneskeins: It is during this period that the last references to the First Ancestors can be found, often blurring with -- or transitioning  into -- mentions of the Ancestor Cores. These are themselves also referred to collectively as "The Votann," with the Kin employing the two terms interchangeably. The First Ancestors are cited here as agents of change, and held responsible for the majority of the stable mutations and phenotypical expressions -- collectively known  as "cloneskeins" -- that run through the Kin gene pool. This pool appears to have been broad, deep and varied from the first, putting the lie to simplistic notions of a cloned race all being literally identical copies.The Votann are also thought to have hardened the Kin both physically and spiritually. Some accounts claim this was in response to a perceived threat, others that it was done to ready the Kin for inhabiting their harsh new home region in the galactic core. In practical terms, the introduction of the cloneskeins gave the baseline Kin denser musculature, tougher bone structures, higher red and white cell counts for more efficient physiologies that are resistant to hard radiation, exceptional core physical strength and formidable physical resilience compared to baseline Humans.More esoteric -- but no less evident -- are the changes worked on the Kin spirit and psyche, which cause their souls to shine far more dimly amidst the tides of the Warp than those of Humans. The Kin evidence no uncontrolled psychic mutation, and only those with the appropriate psychoactive cloneskein can activate the so-called "barrier-tech" that allows psychically-active Kin to interact with the Empyrean.It is rare indeed that Kin fall victim to physical mutation, Daemonic possession or the temptations of Chaos. Hostile psychic abilities struggle to find purchase upon them. It has been suggested by some outside observers that this very hardening of the soul led the Kin to become ever more obstinate and conservative in cultural character. If this is so, then it is just one side of a metaphysical feedback loop that has benefited their race greatly across the millennia.Beyond these benefits available to all Kin, there are many cloneskeins that impart additional useful physical abilities upon Kin who possess them. From enhanced reaction times and vision that registers infra-red or other energistic spectra, to limited resistance to extremes of temperature, gravity or strains of ionising cosmic radiation, the list goes on. The cloneskeins undeniably aided the Kin in enduring the extreme environments of the galactic core.Many cloneskeins manifest physically, whether it be unusually coloured eyes or skin, craggy subdermal layers, chemical body odours or various other giveaways. To Humanity, such physical abnormalities would surely be cause for prejudice and mistreatment. To the Kin, they are rather badges of valuable ability, either bequeathed by the ineffable Ancestor Cores or encouraged by the Cloners' Guilds during gestation.Obscure legend gives way entirely to historical record during the following centuries, as scattered Kin fleets settled new worlds, established trade routes and became the first of the Leagues of Votann.