Feature: Deities of Chaos

Mythic brings us a fascinating feature detailing some of the Lore behind the Chaos Deities.  My favorite? Hashut.

So, even after reading this introduction, you still seek knowledge about the gods of Chaos? Is it mere curiosity? Do you want to find a way to fend off the forces that besiege the Empire? Or do you lust for the power that those twisted deities grant their followers? Whatever it may be, we are glad you do, for our local expert in all things Chaos, German Community Manager Hadi Al-Begami, has written an in-depth guide about the supernatural beings that, in the Age of Reckoning, threaten to bring down the Empire.

Check out the full feature after the jump.

"Only fools believe themselves able to understand Chaos, for it is neither human nor understandable. The mortal scholars and mystics that dare debate about its nature only succeed in drawing the attention of the vile creatures upon them; they call down terrors and doom upon themselves and those they love. Many wise men were carried, alive and screaming, into the morgues of the Inevitable City, where they could eternally “debate” with demons of torture. Some scholars claim that Chaos, in its multifariousness, has spawned an endless number of gods. Others say all those seemingly different deities are nothing but aspects and manifestations of a single supernatural being: the nameless horror, the abomination, the unspeakable beast, the Undivided Chaos. But its true nature exceeds each and every imagination. No mortal can ever hope to understand such madness and he who values his very soul should strive to remain ignorant about the gods of Chaos; their fights, their rivalries, their endless wars."

- Unknown author

So, even after reading this introduction, you still seek knowledge about the gods of Chaos? Is it mere curiosity? Do you want to find a way to fend off the forces that besiege the Empire? Or do you lust for the power that those twisted deities grant their followers? Whatever it may be, we are glad you do, for our local expert in all things Chaos, German Community Manager Hadi Al-Begami, has written an in-depth guide about the supernatural beings that, in the Age of Reckoning, threaten to bring down the Empire.

As was mentioned in the introduction text, Chaos has many aspects, and as there is no way to define what a deity is, we shall focus on what I like to call 'The Big Four': Khorne, Nurgle, Slaanesh, and last but not least, Tzeentch.

Khorne

He is known as the Lord of Skulls, the Blood God, or the Great Dog of War. Some even go as far as to claim that Khaine, the elven god of death, is just a different name for Khorne. He sits high on his throne made of bronze atop a mountain of skulls, spreading eternal war across the Old World.

He is said to have been born when a battle was fought amidst a basin, a battle so fierce that it filled the basin with the blood of the dead. When those still alive begged their gods for the power to fight on, the pleas were left unanswered except by one: the blood began to boil and eight beasts with the heads of a dog and the bodies of a lion, rose from the scarlet lake, the chains around their necks pulling an immense mountain of skulls from the lake that consisted of the blood of those who died in battle. And atop that mountain, on his throne, sat Khorne clad in his armor made of black steel and bronze, and his birth scream drove those who heard it mad with hatred.

His face is a twisted mix of both dog and man, and he wields a two-handed sword that is coated with the blood of those that were slaughtered in his name. He is the god of warriors; his followers do not praise him with rituals or sacrifices, for every battle is a ritual in his name, and every slain enemy is a sacrifice for him.

His admiration for strength and honor are perhaps only surpassed by his despite for magic. Among those who bear his mark, there is not a single one who is adept in the arcane arts, for he sees them as weak and expects his followers to engage in battle only wielding their immense weapons with brutal fury. And that they do: even the bravest soldiers of the Empire will shudder when they hear the warriors of Chaos yell out, “Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for his throne!” on the field of battle.

Nurgle

Known as the god of disease and decay, his mark consists of three adjacent circles that resemble the stylized picture of a fly. His followers wear slimy green and muddy brown armor over their half-rotten bodies, and wherever they go, sickness and pestilence follows them, for Nurgle grants them life in the grip of disease fatal to almost any who come into contact with them.

He is a symbol for the slow death that must come to all and everything eventually, and his body is covered in leathery, greenish skin, riddled with pus and furunculus.

Despite all this, his followers are many. From the tribes of the north that follow him in the hope that he will protect them from the harsh conditions to the beastmen from the woods and the chaos wastes. Among them are the Pestigors, his favorite worshipers, who receive more dark blessings than any other of his followers, their bodies mutilated by various diseases and mutations.

Slaanesh

His followers call him 'The Dark Prince' and he is the youngest of the four, also known as the Prince of Chaos. He’s a lover of all things beautiful, from the arts to music, from fervor to burning desire. His androgynous form is one of such beauty that those who look upon it are said to gain eternal love and devotion for him.

His cortege is widespread and among his worshipers are beastmen and members of the nomadic tribes. He tempts all those seeking the ultimate pleasure in debauchery. So many corrupt merchants and lords of the Empire have fed the Dark Prince their souls, as Slaanesh disports himself on the weaknesses of these humans, granting them a fraction of his powers; he tempts them to give up more and more of themselves.

It is said that he was the reason for the fratricidal war of the elves, for Morathi’s Cult of Slaanesh was blamed for the spreading decadence and arrogance that corrupted the Asur. She and her son Malekith, along with their followers, were cast out. This set in motion events that would lead to the endless war between Druchii and Asur.

Tzeentch

Little is known of Tzeentch amongst the people of the Old World, save that he symbolizes change. Among his followers are wizards, witches, and those who believe themselves mere dabblers in the occult. They are willing to pay the ultimate price, for they believe that he will grant them unspeakable power if only they serve the manifold designs of the Changer of the Ways.Being the weaver of magics, the very fabric of existence makes his plans and plots unimaginable in scale, for what else is magic if not a tool to do what is thought to be impossible? Unlike the other gods, he seldom interferes directly with the works of mortals. He prefers that his worshipers play roles in subtle intrigues, and spread corruption through schemes so irrational that the desired results are often hidden even to the schemer.

Almost all of his followers, demon or man, are adept in the arts of the arcane. Their bodies are often mutated by the uncontrollable power of all winds of magic, sporting birds’ beaks and eyes where there should be none, or even wings. They believe that change is the only constant in the world and magic is the best tool to bring change.

When such change is given as a gift to the Empire by the Northman servants of Tzeentch, it is never for the better and often brought about through fire and steel.


Other Deities of Chaos

Hashut

Known also as the Lord of Fire and Darkness, Hashut is the god of the Chaos Dwarfs. He is depicted as a giant bull that carries an eternally lit flame in his insides.  The Chaos Dwarfs give sacrifices to Hashut by throwing their enemies into pits of molten ore, burning the victims alive.

Hashut gifts his most loyal followers with magical powers known as "Chaos Dwarf magic" - powers that will slowly turn the user into stone. Others are transformed into creatures that can only be described as perverted forms of bulls.


The Horned Rat

Nobody knows for sure whether the Horned Rat is merely a demon or a true deity of Chaos, but one thing is certain: the Skaven worship it as their highest god. It was the Horned Rat, which, after being summoned by the Grey Prophets, who laid down the rules that until now determine the very foundations of Skaven society in the center of Skavenblight.

The Horned Rat holds the 13th seat in the Council of Thirteen, and although it never took part in any of their council meetings, rumors have it that the Horned Rat silently watches its followers struggles, intrigues, and battles for power, amused by their attempts at subtlety.

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