Ghilliam

Ghilliams are a degenerate type of human mutant which appear in Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Description
Emaciated, mutated humanoids, Ghilliams are physically repellant creatures who resemble the ghouls of legend. Although known to occasionally hunt in packs, they are primarily carrion feeders, and are not particularly choosy about where their next meal comes from. Ghilliams infest the deepest cargo holds and most disused accessways of the kilometres-long starships employed by the Imperium of Man, and are exterminated like vermin wherever they are encountered.

Origins
The exact origins of Ghilliams are uncertain, although many believe them to be the descendants of half-starved stowaways who snuck aboard the colossal ships which mankind uses to ferry cargoes between outlying star systems. Hiding away in decks which had not been sufficiently protected against the effects of stellar radiation caused these creatures to degenerate to a level barely recognisable as ever being human.

Whatever the truth, most of these city-sized vessels harbour at least a small population of Ghilliams, who are more than happy to run down and consume any crewman unlucky enough to be working alone, if the ships food stores prove impossible to plunder.