Volarian Imperial Host

The Volarian Imperial Host refers to the Imperial Guard regiments mobilized from the harsh Mining World of Volaria in the Tamahl sector of Segmentum Obscurus. The difficult and brutal conditions on their homeworld molded many Volarians into the ideal unflinching and enduring soldiers, and their upbringing as slaves made many of them unquestioningly obedient. They are primarily an infantry force with some elements of cavalry and artillery for support. The lack of will of Volarian slave soldiers and high endurance for physical pain, as well as total disregard for their own lives, has made them infamous among the Guard. Due to the characteristics of their troops, regiments of the Volarian Host are often assigned to some of the most difficult campaigns that are waged in the God-Emperor's name.

Varitai
The average slave soldiers of the Volarian Imperial Host are known as Varitai (roughly meaning "brute fighter" in the Volarian dialect). With minimal training (at least by Volarian standards) and less advanced equipment, the Varitai are considered to be the completely expendable infantry of the Host. Their upbringing has made them highly enduring, with most being able to continue fighting even upon sustaining grievous injuries, and their upbringing has made them disregard their own lives, allowing Varitai to keep fighting with indifference to any overwhelming odds against them. Thanks to their plentiful numbers the Varitai are regarded as expandable by their officers and are sometimes used in suicidal attacks against the enemy. The Varitai are selected from among average slaves, usually around the ages of 16 or 17, and then given harsh military training. They are drawn from the ranks of slaves of the most powerful noble houses that own tens of millions, and see it as an honor to contribute to the God-Emperor's cause by donating some of their "property" for his crusades.

Kuritai
The smaller elite special forces of the Volarian Host are known as the Kuritai (roughly meaning "elite fighter" in the Volarian dialect). The Kuritai are bred for combat often from birth, trained in everything ranging from marksmanship and unarmed combat to piloting tanks and giving medical assistance (though not for their fellow soldiers, as they ignore casualties in their own ranks, but in case their officers are wounded). Various methods have been used to select Kuritai over the years, most notably raising slaves in gladiatorial arenas known as "the pits", where they are in constant battles for survival. Those that live to their teenage years are then selected for additional training in the various fields to become Kuritai, around the ages of 11 or 12. Since the Kuritai have far more combat value than their much more common Varitai brethren or the Free Rifles, they operate in small squads within the companies of these numerically greater soldiers. Often times they are used as shock troops or to carry out special operations.

Free Rifles
The free independent citizens who are not enslaved but are not aristocrats also face conscription into the Host's ranks, known as Free Rifles. Unlike their slave counterparts the Free Rifles are actually paid and are only obliged to serve for five years of duty, then given the option to sign contracts to serve longer if they wish. They lack the fanatical obedience and unwavering discipline of the Varitai or Kuritai, but have a free will and are more capable of independent thinking while their slave brethren are not much more than drones. This means they are more likely to break or run when faced in deadly situations but also that they can be more clever when it comes to tactics and planning. They are given similar training to the Varitai, but slightly less brutal. The Free Rifles are not quite as expandable as the Varitai in the eyes of Volarian officers, but are not as valued as the Kuritai. They typically fight alongside the Varitai and form the second waves of attack after their comrades have softened the enemy's defenses.