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Chaos Daemons - Dark Pacts: Throughout the Imperium's history, Daemons have tempted Humanity with offers of knowledge, strength, power, and other desires. It was the whispered promises of the Ruinous Powers that seduced Horus and tore the Imperium apart in its earliest days.Though all Daemons are liars, the energies of the Warp can fulfil such promises -- yet the price is high. A Human who enters into a bargain with a creature of the Warp damns themselves and betrays Mankind.
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Chaos Daemons - Hellforged Artefacts: Hellforged Artefacts are items of legendary rarity, gifted only to those Daemons who have proved themselves worthy. To possess such a relic immediately sets a Daemon out amongst its peers, but as is always the way with Chaos, such power comes at a price. Should the Daemon fail in its task despite the boon they have received, they risk the eternal displeasure of their master.Ar'gath, the King of Blades - When a Daemon is bound within a weapon by its infernal master, it rarely submits willingly to this terrible incarceration. The same cannot be said for A'rgath. A lifetime of slaughter and zealous dedication saw this butcher granted Daemonhood. Such was his devotion to Khorne that instead of accepting immortality as a Daemon Prince, he instead chose to take the form of a deadly blade so that he could spill the lifeblood of Khorne's greatest enemies. Their hand guided by A'rgath's spirit, the sword's wielder becomes nigh unstoppable. Countless are the rival Chaos Champions and mortal heroes that have fallen to his power.Armour of Scorn - Though this armour was forged in the Brass Citadel, it was the Blood God's contempt for the weapons and sorceries of lesser warriors that gave it life. Aeons after its creation, it is this same burning scorn which shields its wearer in battle.Burning Books of Khorne - The eight Burning Books of Khorne, bound in brass and etched in fresh blood, are said to decree the eight unholy aspects of the Blood God and name his foremost Daemons. These grimoires are much searched for by sorcerers and even the Inquisition, for knowledge of a Daemon's true name is believed to render it servile to mortal command. Such an acquisition is not easily made, for the Burning Books are scattered across existence.Crimson Crown - It is said that this crown was created from a single drop of Khorne's blood and forged by his withering gaze. A measure of the Blood God's endless wrath is bound within the Crown, and its effect upon his Daemonic servants is palpable. Fuelled by the artefact's fell presence, Khorne's Daemons are driven to ever greater heights of savagery and slaughter.Endless Grimoire - Within the pages of this magical tome lie the secrets of every cantrip, incantation and spell ever conceived by Tzeentch. Though the bearer of this grimoire has access to the infinite knowledge bound within, only the Changer of the Ways himself could hope to master the full scope of its power.Skullreaver - Carved with runes of death and ruin, the edge of this ebony blade glows with barely contained power. The Bloodthirster bound within this mighty axe channels every iota of its hate and rage into these runes until they glow with molten heat, and the greater the foe the wielder faces, the hotter the runes burn.Soulbane - This incorporeal blade inflicts no harm upon its victim's physical body, instead carving its way through the stuff of his very soul. So ephemeral and unreal is this strange weapon that it is impossible to cross blades with Soul Bane, for its ghostly edge will pass straight through any guard. Those struck by Soul Bane collapse in agony, writhing and screaming as their lacerated souls slowly bleed away into the aether. Soul bane is often borne by favoured Heralds of Tzeentch.
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Chaos Daemons - Forces of the Chaos Daemons: Chaos Daemon ForcesKhorneBloodthirster • Herald of Khorne (Bloodmaster • Rendmaster • Sacred Executioner • Skullmaster) • Bloodletter • Bloodcrusher • Blood Slaughterer • Brass Scorpion • Flesh Hound • Juggernaut • Blood Throne of Khorne • Skull Cannon • Skull AltarNurgleGreat Unclean One • Herald of Nurgle (Poxbringer • Spoilpox Scrivener • Sloppity Bilepiper) • Battle Fly • Beast of Nurgle • Nurgling • Plaguebearer • Daemon Prince of Nurgle • Rot Fly • Molluscoid • Blight Drone • Plague Hulk • Plague Drone • Foetid Bloat-drone • Feculent Gnarlmaw • Glitchling • Plague Toad • Pox RiderTzeentchLord of Change • Herald of Tzeentch (Changecaster • Fateskimmer • Fluxmaster) • Daemon Prince of Tzeentch • Disc of Tzeentch • Flamer • Horror • Screamer • Burning Chariot of TzeentchSlaaneshKeeper of Secrets • Herald of Slaanesh (Infernal Enrapturess) • Daemonette • Seeker Chariot of Slaanesh • Fiend • Steed of Slaanesh • Seekers • Hate-Angel • Contorted Epitome • Lady of the Voids • Ruination of Imperfect BeautyOther DaemonsDaemon Prince • Furies • Soul Grinder • Daemon Engine • Chaos Spawn • Chaos Beast • Mutalith Vortex Beast • Daemon Brutes • Daemon Shrike • Daemon BehemothNotable DaemonsAmnaich • An'ggrath • Be'lakor • Blue Scribes • Changeling • Doombreed • Epidemius • Horticulous Slimux • Kairos Fateweaver • Ka'Bandha • Karanak • Ku'gath • Masque of Slaanesh • M'kar • N'Kari • Rotigus • Shalaxi Helbane • Skarbrand • Skulltaker • Syll'Esske • Vashtorr • Zarakynel
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Chaos Dreadclaw: The Chaos Dreadclaw is an ancient assault boat design very much like the current Drop Pod that was used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy and is still in service among the Chaos Space Marine Traitor Legions during the 41st Millennium.The Chaos Dreadclaw may be a variant or descendant of the Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod, that was widely used during these times. Dreadclaws, like the Loyalist Space Marines' Drop Pods, are used to rapidly deploy squads of Chaos Space Marines onto a planet's surface from orbit. The Dreadclaw assault boats are usually deployed from Chaos battleships and cruisers engaged in a planetary assault. These starships will usually bombard the landing zone before the Dreadclaws touch down, clearing them of any opposition.The Dreadclaw is also intended for use in ship-to-ship boarding actions and is outfitted with two sets of grappling claws that allow the Dreadclaw to securely attach itself to the hull of an enemy starship, after attaching it begins cutting through the ship's hull with a ring of powerful melta-cutters located inside the machine's maw.After cutting through the hull, a process that takes only solar minutes, the Dreadclaw opens its air-tight iris hatch and allows its cargo of Chaos Space Marines passage into the enemy ship. The Dreadclaw is intended as an all-purpose assault boat that can deliver either a squad of up to ten Chaos Space Marines, up to five Chaos Terminators, or a single Chaos Dreadnought to combat for both ground assaults and ship-to-ship fleet actions.The Dreadclaw operates much like its present Imperial counterpart. During a planetary assault, it hurtles through the atmosphere like a man-made meteor until at a certain pre-determined altitude, its retro-rockets kick in and slow its descent to a speed survivable by Astartes (though not necessarily by normal humans).The Dreadclaw does not extend its main claw arms until it has landed and is ready to begin deploying its troops, since the arms' mechanisms are delicate and could be damaged by the impact or the heat of atmospheric entry. Once on the ground, the assault boat's main hatch irises open and the squad or Chaos Dreadnought steps out on the surface. The four claws then extend, driving the Dreadclaw's armoured bulk upwards and revealing its deadly contents, who begin combat operations in their typically savage fashion.Unlike Imperial Drop Pods, the Dreadclaw is an assault boat, which means that it is fully capable of lifting off and leaving a planetary atmosphere or a warship's surface again, so that it can be used to extract Chaotic troops from a planetary surface or boarding operation as well as deliver them.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - History: The Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod was initially designed during the Great Crusade to insert Legion Space Marine boarding forces onto enemy voidcraft in the midst of battle. As such they had a minimal profile and a heavily armoured hull designed to survive fire from smaller, ship-based close defence weaponry, while a series of melta-cutters allowed it to slice through a ship's outer hull and deliver its cargo into the heart of a vessel.Unlike some earlier boarding craft, which were incapable of returning their cargo to friendly ships, the Dreadclaw was also fully capable of operating as an independent dropship. Indeed, many Legions favoured using the Dreadclaw in this role instead of the more common Storm Eagle, dropping from the sky like a flaming comet and employing the craft's thermal jets and melta-cutters to scorch the landing zone clean before disembarking the assault troops contained within.Though lacking in any subtlety or elegance, this tactic was undeniably effective, and many crew had developed a dark notoriety for their skill at reckless low altitude strafing runs, leaving great swathes of the enemy's lines aflame with each pass.Before the Horus Heresy began, the Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod was one of the most advanced assault boats in service with the Space Marine Legions or the Armada Imperialis fleet of the Imperial Army during the Great Crusade. However, its design by the ancient Mechanicum was flawed.When the Dreadclaw's on-board cogitator was interfaced with the extensive array of navigation auspexes and logic engines present on an Imperial starship, its Machine Spirit began to develop a dangerous and unexpected level of self-awareness. The launch bays and maintenance decks of Imperial warships outfitted with complements of Dreadclaws began to suffer from a suspiciously high number of fatal accidents and malfunctions, which, despite the reassurances provided by the Mechanicum Tech-priests, soon led to rumours that the Dreadclaws' Machine Spirits were cursed in some way.Once the Heresy began, the number of such fatal incidents on starships that were part of the Loyalist forces increased exponentially and led to many Imperial starship captains simply jettisoning their entire complement of the assault boats into the cold vacuum of space. The Dreadclaws present on Traitor vessels did not suffer nearly as many problems.In fact, after the end of the Heresy and the retreat of the Traitor Legions into the Eye of Terror, the Dreadclaws became as warped by constant exposure to Chaos energies as the rest of the Heretic Astartes' equipment and vehicles. The malevolence of these assault boats' Machine Spirits has only grown, though now they serve the agenda of the Ruinous Powers.Dreadclaws today can be said to positively revel in the taking of the lives of those dedicated to the service of the False Emperor. The original Forge World which designed the Dreadclaw was eventually purged from Imperial records after the Heresy.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Armament: The Dreadclaw is an unarmed transport vehicle used by the forces of Chaos to quickly deploy their forces to a planet's surface or to an enemy starship. The Dreadclaw's only feature that could be considered a weapon is its melta-cutter, which is able to cause only minor damage to a starship by cutting access points into its hull so its cargo of Chaos Space Marines can depart and board the vessel.The Dreadclaw is, however, capable of being outfitted with external Frag Assault Launchers, which will fire a blast of fragmentation charges to protect itself from any enemy infantry that gets too close while the Dreadclaw is on a planet's surface.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Dreadclaw Talon: Many of the Traitor Legions prefer sudden and brutally-enacted assaults that can shatter the morale and unit cohesiveness of an Imperial or xenos enemy that is often numerically superior to them. Such attacks serve a double purpose: the elimination of strategic targets and a rapid closing with the foe that allows Heretic Astartes to rend their foes apart in the bloody melee combat that so many of them simply relish.One way that these assaults are carried out is using the formation known as the Dreadclaw Talon. This tactic uses the Dreadclaw assault boat to deliver a hand-picked force comprised of up to four Chaos Space Marine squads, including Chaos Terminators or Chaos Dreadnoughts, into combat mere moments after a Chaos warfleet unleashes a devastating orbital bombardment.Moments after Lance fire and torpedo strikes clear their landing zone, the Traitor Marines will land and unleash their firepower on the stunned defenders to take their objective or kill important enemy personnel. This tactic was used most memorably during the Battle of Ironholm in the Gothic War (12th Black Crusade) when a warband of the World Eaters deployed the Killing Hand Dreadclaw Talon into the heart of the Imperial Guard's defensive lines.Lord General Kolke and his entire command staff were slaughtered on the end of the Khornate Berserkers' Chainaxes, destroying the Imperial defenders' command and control and striking a devastating blow against their morale all in one swoop. This assault ultimately turned the tide of the battle in the favour of the servants of the Blood God.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Wargear: Frag Assault Launchers
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Transport Capacity: The Dreadclaw has a transport capacity of 10 or can be used to transport a single Dreadnought.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Ordo Malleus Departmento Analyticus Data: The original technical specifications of the Dreadclaw have been either lost or purged from Imperial records.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Canon Conflict: The Chaos Dreadclaw is no longer available for sale by Forge World, but was reintroduced as the Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod. The Imperial Armour: Volume 13 - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned book specifically names the Anvillus Dreadclaw as the new Chaos Dreadclaw, and as such the Chaos Dreadclaw may no longer be canon.
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Chaos Dreadclaw - Sources: Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two, pp. 21, 33, 145, 157-159Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pg. 188Imperial Armour Aeronautica, pg. 73Imperial Armour Apocalypse, pp. 100, 105Imperial Armour Apocalypse (Second Edition), pp. 112, 114Imperial Armour (Update 2002), pp. 42-43Imperial Armour (Update 2006), pg. 33The Horus Heresy - Book Three: Extermination (Imperial Armour), pg. 235Forge World - Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod
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Chaos Gods - Chaos Gods: The Chaos Gods, also called the Dark Gods or the Ruinous Powers, are powerful, self-aware entities comprised solely of psychic energy who inhabit and control the psychic dimension that underlies all physical reality known as the Immaterium or the "Warp."The Chaos Gods are in truth not really divine beings, though their great power often means there is little difference for those mortals who revere them. These Warp entities are created and sustained by the emotions and collective desires of every sentient being of the material universe. When an emotion or belief in realspace grows strong or widespread enough across the galaxy, it becomes embodied as one of the sentient denizens of the Warp.The most powerful and most malevolent of these have become the Gods of Chaos. Although they are god-like beings, the Dark Gods are by their nature monomaniacal and completely single-minded since they are formed entirely of a single emotion or concept.The Chaos Gods are dependent upon the emotions of mortal creatures, especially the hordes of Humanity, for their power and continued existence. As a result, the Chaos Gods strive to convert all mortals to their worship and service so that they may ultimately dominate the universe. However, if they were to win such a dark victory, it would likely destroy all of reality when the dimensional separation between realspace and the Immaterium broke down in its wake.The Chaos Gods and the forces of Chaos that serve them are the greatest enemies of the Imperium of Man, the Aeldari and most other sentient forms of life in the Milky Way Galaxy, even if they are not fully aware yet of the threat Chaos poses, like the T'au Empire.The Chaos Gods are able to devote a fraction of their psychic power in the Warp to create Daemons, psychic entities whose appearance and character reflect their patron god's own nature.These Daemons may be reabsorbed into the god at their whim. The least of the minor Chaos Gods may be so limited in their power that expending that power to create a Daemon means their entire power is expended; in effect, the god becomes a Daemon.In the Warp, the psychic reflection of similar thoughts and emotions gather together like rivulets of water running down a cliff face. They form streams and eddies of anguish and desire, pools of hatred and torrents of pride.Since the dawn of time, these tides and waves of psychic energy have flowed unceasingly through the mirror realm of the Warp, and such is their power that they forged creatures made of the very stuff of dreams and nightmares.Eventually, these instinctual, formless entities gained a rudimentary consciousness of their own. The Chaos Gods were born -- vast psychic presences composed of the fantasies and horrors of mortals. These are the Ruinous Powers, and each one is a reflection of the mortal passions that formed them.First amongst them is Khorne, the Lord of Battle, possessed of towering and immortal fury. Tzeentch, the bizarre and ever-changing Architect of Fate, weaves powerful sorceries to bind the future to his will, whilst great Nurgle, the Lord of Decay, labours endlessly to spread infection and pestilence. The last of their number is Slaanesh, the Dark Prince of Chaos, indulgent of every pleasure and excess, no matter how immoral or perverse.As the intelligent species of the Milky Way Galaxy prospered and grew, so too did their hopes and ambitions, their anger and wars, their love and hatred. This burgeoning flood of raw emotion fed the Chaos Gods and nurtured their power.Before long, the gods reached back to their makers with a curious and hungry sentience, planting seeds of corruption in the souls of those whose dreams they passed through. So were the first mortals bound to the will of the Ruinous Powers, and seeing the fruits of their labours, the gods began their eternal work to influence the physical realm and its myriad sentient races.Lured by promises of extraordinary power and immortality, some mortals serve the Chaos Gods willingly, fomenting misery, war and death amongst their people in order to sustain and elevate their dark masters. Yet the Chaos Gods are fickle, prone to reneging or altering a deal on a whim, and few of these worshippers are ever granted the rewards they seek.A Chaos God can only grow in power through the actions and thoughts of mortals. Those who worship a Chaos God, and behave in a way that feeds it, are rewarded with strange "gifts," extraordinary powers and potentially, immortality as a Daemon Prince. As the Chaos Gods battle in the Warp, so their mortal followers wage war in the material universe.The victors of the battles earn more power for their unworldy master, though the twisted plans of the Chaos Gods are such that often victory is not necessary; merely the acts of sacrifice and battle themselves.When devotees of Chaos die, their souls do not fade in the Warp and disappear like the spirits of others to some unknown and unknowable fate. Instead, their immortal energy is swallowed into the greatness of their gods, their souls sustained forever, bound to the eternal power of Chaos.As a Chaos God gathers such energy, it expands in power, and its influence and territory within the Warp's Realm of Chaos grows. As extensions of the gods, the appearances of these domains are formed upon the same emotions that created their masters: Khorne's realm is founded on anger and bloodletting; Tzeentch's lands are scintillating constructs of pure magic; Nurgle's territory is a haven of death and regeneration, and Slaanesh's dominion is a paradise of damning temptations.Though realm and god are as one, the Chaos Gods each have a form that embodies their personalities and dwells at the very heart of their territories. Wreathed in unearthly power, the Chaos Gods watch over their realms, seeking any disturbances in the pattern of the Warp that signal intrusion or opportunity
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Chaos Gods - History: In the early history of the galaxy, the powers of the Warp had yet to form into distinct, intelligent entities. At this time, the emotions of sentient mortals flowed and ebbed as water does in a stream.As the intelligent mortal species of the galaxy grew and prospered, so did the strength of their emotions. Eventually, the entities within the Warp grew to such a point where they could act independently of the general flow of emotions and thus became the Gods of Chaos.They reached into the dreams of mortals and demanded praise and servitude in order to increase their own power, as the more one emotion is exhibited (in both thought and action) by a large group of sentient beings in the physical universe, the stronger that Chaos God becomes.The Warp is the mirror of reality, a churning sea of raw psychic energy fed by the emotions of every creature of the galaxy who hopes, hates and dreams. It is a place of metaphor and madness, that can never be perceived or understood except through symbols and subjective interpretation. The strange powers of psykers of all kinds flow from the power of the Warp, the psyker's mind acting as a channel for the unreality of the Warp to affect reality.It is also the Warp that allows Mankind, and many other races, to travel the vast distances of space. Starships pass through the Warp, their courses guided by Navigators bred to perceive and read the tides of psychic energy. All this was known in the time of the Emperor's Great Crusade, but it was only half the truth.The gods whose existence was once denied by the early Imperium of Man's ruling ideology called the Imperial Truth are real. Vast formations of psychic energy, storms of dark emotion, persistent notes in the symphony of existence, all descriptions fall short of the true nature of the Powers of the Warp.Powerful beyond mortal comprehension, parasitic and malign they are the Ruinous Powers, the pantheon of lies, the Primordial Annihilator. They have countless names in countless tongues, but to those who have glimpsed even a fraction of their existence, they are best known as the Chaos Gods.These utterly alien entities hunger for the mortal realm, even though it is as fundamentally poisonous to their nature as air is to a creature of the deep ocean.They can extend their power into reality, can expend power to influence mortals, corrupt physical existence, even send portions of themselves to walk amongst mortals as the entities called "Daemons," but only for a time.To truly affect reality, they must use mortal creatures of flesh and blood. To such servants they can gift powers beyond imagining, offering the coin of the impossible in exchange for eternal slavery.To many Humans such an exchange may seem the only way to escape from the pain of life, or to achieve their heart's desire, and in the superstitions and beliefs of the past, the Chaos Gods wait for the vain, the suffering, the wrathful and the desperate.The Imperial Truth once strangled the beliefs and practises in which the Chaos Gods lurked. It hid the truth because the Emperor believed that such deliberate ignorance was the only way to protect Mankind from the predations of the Dark Gods.
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Chaos Gods - End of Days: With the opening of the Great Rift at the end of the 41st Millennium, the Daemonic incursions that had plagued the galaxy since time immemorial escalated in both scale and frequency.A new era of terror and bloodshed was ushered in by that galaxy-spanning tear in the fabric of reality, and the armies of the Chaos Gods, mortal and Daemonic alike, began to conquer and consume the worlds of Humanity and the alien races with unprecedented impunity.Had the Chaos Gods worked in unison in the wake of that terrible event, it is doubtless that realspace would have been utterly consumed by the sprawling madness of the Warp.Yet true to their nature, the dark brothers saw the anarchy as an opportunity to fulfil their own agendas: to kill, to change, to pollute, to bathe in excess. So divided, they are unable to fully overcome the fierce resistance of the galaxy's inhabitants.The Imperium of Man, the largest single empire in the galaxy, has been galvanised by the return of the legendary Primarch Roboute Guilliman, and with him fights a new breed of warrior in Humanity's defence, the Primaris Space Marines.The older intelligent species of the galaxy, such as the Aeldari and the Necrons, continue to exhibit a stubborn refusal to bow before the Chaos Gods and accept their extinction, while upstart new species like the T'au gain a greater understanding by the day of the Realm of Chaos and the ancient and malevolent beings within it.The barbaric Orks are only incited by the surging conflicts around them, and greet the prospect of battle against the Daemonic legions with the same reckless enthusiasm they always have.The intergalactic devourers known as the Tyranids regard the immaterial Daemons with a special distaste, seeing them only as undigestible threats to the biomass they wish to consume.So the ultimate battle for the galaxy continues, the Chaos Gods and their Daemonic legions threatening to annihilate everything, including each other, in their eternal quest for dominance.
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Chaos Gods - Dark Gods: The Chaos Gods are the supernatural rulers of the Immaterium (the Warp) and have a great impact upon the events occurring in the physical universe. Numbered amongst the most powerful of the Chaos Gods are Khorne, the god of warfare, rage and murder, Nurgle, the god of disease, despair and decay, Tzeentch, the god of change and sorcery and Slaanesh, the god of pleasure and excess.There is a fifth major Chaos God named Malice who embodies Chaos' tendency to turn in upon itself and who acts against the interests of the other Chaos Gods whenever he can, though he is certainly no ally of the Imperium either.Occasionally, the Chaos Gods can set aside their innate rivalry and unite in the pursuit of a larger goal, such as the overthrow of the Imperium of Man and its Emperor, who represent the strongest current force for order in the Milky Way Galaxy. During this time, the forces of the Ruinous Powers can be considered to serve a concept known as Chaos Undivided.The Ruinous Powers generally draw their strength from the sentient minds of the galaxy's inhabitants, whose collective unconsciousness shapes the psychically-reactive substance of the Immaterium and actually gives birth and sustenance to the Chaos Gods and any other spiritual entities who are empowered by a sufficient level of belief, like the Aeldari's lost gods or the Emperor of Mankind Himself.The Ruinous Powers possess the ability to interact with the material universe in a limited way as the entities of the Warp can at times enter the material universe through the minds of those individuals gifted (or cursed) with psychic powers.The Ruinous Powers can also shape lesser supernatural entities from the psychic substance of the Warp who are extensions of their own wills and are generally referred to in the Imperium of Man and among the Aeldari as Daemons.The T'au are excluded from worrying about possession by Warp entities like Daemons because of their limited psychic abilities and thus their limited presence in the Warp.The Necrons, as intelligent yet soulless creatures composed of living metal, no longer project any psychic presence in the Warp, while their former C'tan masters are beings purely of the material realm who are unusually vulnerable to psychic attacks because of their lack of a presence in the Immaterium.There exists a hierarchy of sorts within the ranks of the Ruinous Powers, though it ebbs and flows according to the vagaries of the Great Game for supremacy fought constantly between the Dark Gods and their servants.Currently, in the 41st Millennium, Khorne is held as the mightiest of all, for the practice of murder and blood sacrifice stretches to the dark beginnings of the universe.Though Khorne sees the use of psychic sorcery as the refuge of cowards, his closest rival, Tzeentch, thrives on the raw stuff of Chaos and uses it to influence a million times a million plots, his devious mind always a step ahead of his opponents.Where Tzeentch would see hopes thrive and fortunes change, Nurgle, the Father of Plagues, revels in despair and hopelessness. In times of galactic pandemic, Nurgle's power can eclipse even that of his brothers in darkness.Last in the pantheon is Slaanesh, who knows well how to play on the obsessions of his rivals. Khorne's single-minded bloodlust, Nurgle's quest to infect every living thing, and Tzeentch's compulsion to dabble in the fates of mortals -- all are obsessions which the Lord of Excess can turn to his will with a whispered promise.While the Chaos Gods are all enemies in the Great Game, each bears a special enmity for one of their brothers in particular. Khorne most despises Slaanesh, whose earthly decadence and sensual lusts are at odds with the Blood God's martial pride and desire for indiscriminate slaughter; the Dark Prince finds Khorne's artless brutality dull, and takes a perverse delight in agitating him.Similarly, Tzeentch's desire to foster the corrupt ambitions of mortals is at odds with Nurgle's spreading of despair and death, and so a special rivalry exists between the two.The four primary Chaos Gods are:Khorne, The Blood God -- God of War, Murder, Rage and Battle -- Khorne is the Blood God, an angry and murderous God of Chaos whose bellows of limitless rage echo throughout the corridors of time and space. His great brass throne sits upon a mountain of skulls in the midst of a plain of splintered bone and lakes of mortal blood formed from the remains of his followers slain in battle and those who his minions have killed in his name. Khorne embodies mindless and absolute violence, destroying everyone and everything within reach, shedding the blood of friend and foe alike. The followers of Khorne are always ferocious warriors and never make use of psychic powers, for the Blood God abhors the trickery of magic and cowardly sorcerers, particularly the servants of Tzeentch. Men turn to Khorne for the power to conquer, to defeat their enemies in battle, to wreak bloody vengeance and to attain unmatched martial prowess against all comers. The most fanatical and dedicated of his followers, those whose souls are trapped fully within his bloody embrace, know that he truly desires only constant and wild slaughter for its own sake. Khorne cares not from where the blood flows, only that it flows without cease for all eternity.Tzeentch, The Changer of the Ways -- God of Change, Sorcery, Fate and Hope -- Tzeentch is known by many titles across the galaxy, including the Changer of the Ways, the Master of Fortune, the Great Conspirator and the Architect of Fate. He is the Great Sorcerer, the God of Sorcery and Change and master of the mutable stream of destiny and time. Tzeentch is, without question, the most disturbing and least comprehensible of all the Chaos Gods. His skin crawls with constantly changing faces that leer at and mock all who look upon him. When Tzeentch deigns to speak to other beings, these faces repeat his words, often with subtle but important differences of intonation and meaning. Plotters and schemers find themselves drawn to Tzeentch, especially those who crave psychic or sorcerous power to achieve their goals. Politicians and leaders, magisters and Chaos Cultists, all find themselves drawn along the convoluted paths of fate, using Tzeentch to achieve their dreams and aspirations, though ultimately all are led to play their part in Tzeentch's own eternal schemes. No man can fully comprehend the full nature of the intricately-woven, multi-layered plots of Tzeentch and to attempt to do so can only lead to insanity. Yet in reality Tzeentch has no grand plan, no ultimate goal to fulfill. For Tzeentch the mere act of plotting and entwining the brief fates of mortals is purpose enough. There is no end to his scheming for he desires no end to the creation of change. Tzeentch can never achieve any ultimate aim for to do so would be the end of ambition and thus the end of the Lord of Destiny.Nurgle, The Plague Lord -- God of Death, Disease, Despair and Decay -- Nurgle is the mighty Lord of Decay who presides over all physical corruption and morbidity. Disease and putrefaction, the inevitable entropic decline of all things, are the favours he bestows upon the universe. The God's immense body is bloated with corruption and exudes a sickly, diseased stench. His skin is greenish, leathery and necrotic, its surface pock-marked with all of his various boils, running sores and favorite infestations. From his exposed guts spill tiny Lesser Daemons, his Nurglings, who dine upon the filthy fluids that ooze from Grandfather Nurgle's many festering wounds. It is to free themselves from despair -- the eternal mortal dread of disease, starvation and death -- that men turn to the Plague Lord. Despite his appearance, he is a warm, welcoming God who prides himself on the achievements of his followers, gifting them with his most hideous diseases even as he protects them from all pain and the cold sleep of death. The fear of death can be found in the hearts of all the sentient beings of the universe, and so there is no shortage of mortals willing to sacrifice their immortal souls in return for the corrupted preservation of their physical bodies for all time.Slaanesh, The Dark Prince -- God of Pleasure, Pain, Sensation, Excess and Desire -- Slaanesh is the youngest of the Chaos Gods and alone of all the Ruinous Powers, the Prince of Chaos is divinely beautiful. He is as seductive as only an immortal can be, disarming in his innocence, utterly beguiling in his manner and irresistibly tempting with his words. Slaanesh can assume male, female or hermaphroditic form at will and it is impossible for a mortal to look upon him without losing his soul and becoming a slave to the Prince of Pleasure's slightest whim. Mortals that seek charisma and fellowship turn to Slaanesh, for his gifts can make one popular and inspiring. Poets and artists are drawn into his gaze by the promise of inspiration and fame, while even the hardiest warriors might seek the adulation of the masses and the ironclad loyalty of their followers. Yet as one continues in the service of Slaanesh, such pleasures soon grow stale and his servants are driven on to search for ever greater sensations and ever more self-fulfillment until only the most decadent and debased of acts can stir their emotions or provide the pleasure they have come to crave.The first three Chaos Gods became self-aware entities by the middle of the 2nd Millennium, but Slaanesh did not fully awaken until the Fall of the Aeldari in the 30th Millennium at the end of the Age of Strife.There is a fifth major Chaos God who appeared in earlier editions of Warhammer 40,000 who is almost never mentioned save by the most arcane of texts:Malice, The Renegade God - God of Anarchy, Vengeance and Nihilism
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Chaos Gods - Followers: The Chaos Gods' most devoted and powerful mortal followers are known as Champions of Chaos, and are spiritually bound to their patrons.Chaos Champions are rewarded with the mark of their patron Chaos God, mutational or psychic "gifts" unique to each god and the potential blessing of ascension to become a Daemon Prince of that god.When a follower of a Chaos God dies, their soul is absorbed into the greater psychic mass of that god within the Warp, adding its energy to the already formidable power of that deity. It is for this reason that the Ruinous Powers seek to corrupt and turn to their worship as many mortal souls as they possibly can.
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Chaos Gods - The Great Game: The Chaos Gods are rivals of each other -- the constant war between them mirrors the struggle between their followers in the material universe, and vice-versa. This struggle for dominance over the Warp and the physical universe by the Chaos Gods is known as the "Great Game."The Warp is not merely the home of the Dark Gods; it is also their primary battlefield, the arena for this Great Game of Supremacy. Since time immemorial, the Chaos Gods have warred with one another, vying for power amid the immaterial planes.Despite their myriad differences, the great Gods of Chaos have the same goal: total domination of the universe. There is no realm that they do not wish to claim for their own, and each seeks absolute rule, the mere concept of sharing power with another anathema to them.With the ebb and flow of energy within the Warp, the power of a Chaos God expands and contracts, and his realm will shift accordingly. For long periods, one god may dominate the others, fed by its own success and leeching its foes' energy for its own growth. Eventually, the other gods will ally against the dominant force, and through combined efforts reduce him in power until another of their number rises to prominence.This pattern is played out again and again through eternity. It seems unlikely that any Chaos God could ever truly be victorious, and it is unthinkable what might happen should such an event ever occur, but it certainly is not for lack of trying.When the gods do battle, the Immaterium shakes and Warp Storms rage across the galaxy. Within the Realm of Chaos, hordes of Daemons are sent forth to do their creators' biddings, and the lands of the gods strain and heave at each other in physical assault. Possessed of personality and intelligence, the Daemons of a Chaos God aspire to draw favour from their master, and often launch their own attacks into the domains of rival Daemons.The armies of the gods pour from one territory to another in a ceaseless frenzy of invasion and defence. As intrigue, feints and lures lead forces into traps, elsewhere pacts are forged, and opposing sides join forces mid-battle as a common cause creates a temporary amnesty between rivals.It is never long, however, before the merest possibility of advantage arises, and the brief cessation of open warfare between two parties is readily abandoned so the Daemons might once more fall upon one another.Vast swathes of the Immaterium are in a constant state of flux, every moment a new territory won or lost. When an invading army emerges victorious, they immediately set to work on turning the ravaged battlefield into part of their god's realm, moulding the raw entropy of that section of the Immaterium into whatever form best pleases their master.From time to time there arises a being, place, object or event in the material universe that attracts the attention of all the Gods of Chaos. So important is this new element, so desired by the Ruinous Powers or so dangerous to their shared ambitions, that all rivalry is temporarily put aside in order to take advantage of this particular opportunity, or thwart the threat it presents. In such an instance, the gods will work together, and the galaxy trembles before their combined power as Chaos Undivided.For Mankind, the most significant occasion of this type was the rise of the Emperor. During this period, the Chaos Gods set out to bring about the Master of Mankind's downfall, beginning with the spiriting away of His infant primarchs from the laboratory on Terra where they were created, and culminating in the spiritual corruption of half their number and the civil wars of the Horus Heresy.Other events have led to briefer cessations of conflict in the Realm of Chaos: particularly promising Black Crusades, for example, or the extermination or birth of a new race.Such interest in mortal affairs is fleeting, and as soon as their objective is achieved, the gods resume their Great Game. Sometimes treaties will be broken even before their mutual goals are met, with one god or another, or all four, overstepping the bounds of their agreement and attempting to usurp their rivals. Once again the Realm of Chaos will thunder to the march of the Daemonic legions, and their age-old feuds will spill over into the domains of realspace.
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Chaos Gods - Daemons: A Daemon is an entity of pure psychic energy formed from a fragment of a Chaos God's consciousness. They comprise the armies of the Chaos Gods within the Warp, and frequently battle the Daemonic armies of other Gods and unbelievers on the material plane.The Chaos Gods often send their Daemonic legions into the galaxy. Such invasions may be part of a long-engineered plan, or merely an opportunity seized -- for instance, taking advantage of a newly opened rift or swirling Warp Storm to materialise a Daemon host that will run rampant across the mortal worlds.Dark omens, Chaos Cultist activity and mutation frequently herald and accompany their arrival in realspace, and when the armies of the gods blaze into being, reality itself bows before them. Each of these dread legions are characterised by the unique aspects of their founding power.Khorne's Daemons advance as a great host accompanied by blaring horns; beneath brazen banners, the whips of roaring monstrosities urge on rank upon rank of bloodthirsty footsoldiers. With raw anger and violence, the legions of Khorne cut a swathe through enemy territory, the blood spilt by their attacks a tribute to their almighty maker.Acts of slaughter and mutilation are rewarded by the Lord of Battle, and even those that fight against his Daemons unwittingly empower him with their rage and blood sacrifice.Tzeentch is perhaps the most devious of all the gods, for he will look to create a weakness to exploit before sending his servants to war. There is always a plan to his attacks, although it is often beyond the understanding of mortals, and may take untold millennia to unfold.Through plotting and sorcery, the Changer of Ways will set his enemies against each other, sowing confusion and distrust; when the time is finally right, Tzeentch's cackling minions and manipulative magisters sweep forward upon a carpet of magic, striking at the weakest of the targets, opening unseen seams of Warp energies or setting the stage for future catastrophes.When Nurgle's minions are set free, they march forth to spread disease and decay. Sonorous chanting and the dolorous clangs of rusted bells herald their attacks, while the army advances under an impenetrable swarm of flies.Capering Daemon-mites carpet the ground before the host, and the noxious poxes of the fleshy hulks that command them kill everything in their path, rendering all life down to mulch from which corrupted fungi and poisonous plants erupt.The invasions of Slaanesh begin in an insidious fashion before developing into a full frontal assault. The tendrils of the Dark Prince's power inveigle their way into the souls of mortals, perverting them from within and giving them over entirely to the pursuit of their base desires.By the time his lithe and sensuous Daemonic legions arrive, the foe is utterly beguiled, and his minions will sweep forward with unmatched speed to slice through opposition in an orgy of mayhem and debauchery.
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Chaos Gods - Minor Chaos Gods: Though the four major Chaos Gods are the most well-known and the most likely to be worshipped individually, there also exists within the Warp a plethora of minor Chaos deities.While these entities are not as powerful as the major powers, they are every bit as dangerous and evil. It is believed by some Imperial savants that it is one of these minor deities who transformed the Chaos Space Marine Raptors into their current state.Some of these minor Chaos Gods are outlined below.Ans'l, Mo'rcck and Phraz-Etar are minor Chaos deities. Chaos Space Marines were rumoured to praise them by putting spikes on their power armour. Their names are puns on the last names of Bryan Ansell, Michael Moorcock, and Frank Frazetta, writers and artists whose work all contributed to the look and feel of the Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 universes.Malice is an entity worshipped as the Renegade God of Chaos and the Hierarch of Anarchy and Terror. The Renegade Space Marines Chapter called the Sons of Malice number among his followers.The T'au Fourth Sphere of Expansion is believed to have been saved in the Warp by a possible Chaos God created in their image. However the T'au of the Fourth Sphere believe that the allied Auxiliaries with their fleet were responsible for the being's creation, and that it is in fact a perversion created from their perception of the Greater Good. This entity is described as five-fingered, many-armed, and adhering to the concepts of the Greater Good.
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Chaos Hound - Chaos Hound: A Chaos Hound is a type of Chaos Beast often utilised by the forces of Chaos, most often by the mortals of the Lost and the Damned and various Chaos Cults. These beasts resemble mutant dogs or hounds who have been so twisted and deformed by the energies of the Warp that glistening muscle and tissue is visible through their hair and what remains of their skin.However, despite their frightening and decrepit appearance Chaos Hounds are extremely agile and strong, capable of catching a Human and ripping them to shreds within only solar seconds. Chaos Hounds are so vicious and strong that many Chaos warbands frequently make use of Chaos-corrupted Ogryns to serve as their handlers. Only those Abhumans have the matching strength and ferocity to keep Chaos Hounds fully in check until their savagery is needed.
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Chaos Knights - Chaos Knights: The Chaos Knights, also known as Renegade Knights, Daemon Knights, and the Questor Traitoris in High Gothic, are Imperial Knight combat walkers, their Fallen Noble pilots and Knight houses corrupted to the service of Chaos.Humanoid war engines that tower over their foes, each Chaos Knight carries an army's worth of firepower upon its weaponised limbs and hulking carapace.At close quarters, their roaring Reaper Chainswords and crushing Thunderstrike Gauntlets destroy what their trampling feet cannot, scattering terrified survivors before their unstoppable advance. The ground shudders beneath the godlike tread of the Renegade Knights.Even one such looming war engine possesses the firepower to annihilate entire regiments of enemy warriors, pick apart armoured columns, and swat squadrons of aircraft from the skies. Chaos Lords and rebellious demagogues will go to great lengths to secure the services of such a lone warrior, sacrificing whatever they must to ensure that this god of destruction fights at their side.Deployed in great number, the Questor Traitoris are more fearsome still, and have been known to bring entire worlds to heel, scourging them by blade and flame in the name of the Dark Gods.Each Chaos Knight is an unhallowed relic of Humanity's ancient past. They are twisted reflections of the Imperial Knights, corrupted in form and spirit by fell sorceries, dark worship and malefic re-engineering. The Knight suits were first created using Standard Template Construct databases during the Age of Technology, and many have survived through the innumerable wars that have characterised the long Terran millennia since.For generations uncounted, the colossal war machines have been piloted by Nobles -- aristocratic warriors possessed of enough physical, mental and spiritual fortitude to survive the Ritual of Becoming, commune with the Throne Mechanicum at each walker's heart and thus bond with their Knight suit.In the case of Chaos Knights, such rituals are tainted by Warp entities, malefic sorceries and the perversions of the Nobles themselves. At first, the Knight may appear unchanged, but in its core the irrevocable process of rot has already begun.Over Terran years or even centuries, Chaos energies seep into the war engine, torturing its Machine Spirit and mutating its mechanical form. Where once the suit and its pilot were a gleaming beacon of Imperial honour, the Chaos Knight and its Fallen Noble comprise a symbiotic beast of unfettered wrath and base hatred.A Noble is enabled to pilot their war machine by being wired into an arcane contraption that is implanted into their Knight's cockpit -- a Throne Mechanicum in the larger Knights, or a Helm Mechanicum in the smaller classes. Neural jacks and cerebral uplinks connect the pilot's nervous system to the device, allowing them to directly interface with the machinery of their steed.Actuators and omni-motivators are driven by streams of hateful thoughts, whilst sensory information and multi-spectrum Auspex relays feed back into the Noble's mind with burning clarity. Within each Throne Mechanicum are the spectral neural echoes of its previous pilots, screaming techno-gheists whose suffering increases exponentially as the Knight to which they are bonded grows ever more warped.Only the most indomitable Fallen Nobles are able to commune with a Throne Mechanicum. Those that do are able to spur their Chaos Knight into action by inimical will alone. Nobles who are wired into a Helm Mechanicum are similarly twisted by Chaos energies that have been absorbed by their war engine. The Helms also yoke these pilots mind and soul to the will of their Knightly overlords.Since the Horus Heresy, thousands of individual Knights and even whole Knight houses have fallen to Chaos. Each instance of treachery is a monumental blow to the Imperium. The Nobles and their Knight suits are not only crucial cogs in Humanity's war machine, they are considered to be among the most unshakeably loyal servants of the Emperor.The mere suggestion that a Noble could forswear their vows and fight against the Imperium's servants is tantamount to blasphemy. It is whispered that the Departmento Munitorum has had Imperial officers executed for heresy rather than acknowledge their claims that they have done battle with turncoat Nobles. Yet the terrifying reality is that Chaos Knights bent on anarchy and slaughter march upon the Emperor's realm in ever-greater numbers.Fallen Nobles embark on campaigns of destruction for many reasons. Some do so to conquer territory in the name of the baleful deities they worship. Others have sworn fealty to the Dark Mechanicum, the Heretic Astartes or powerful daemonic entities, and answer the dread summons of war whenever they are called upon.Others still are driven by insanity and profane visions, launching quests to upend the very fabric of existence and transform the galaxy into a twisted hellscape.Chaos Knights are able to cover enormous distances when battling across a planet, marching unhindered through toxic atmospheres and across irradiated continents to reach their enemies. When their wars stretch beyond a single world, many of their kind use corrupted Dark Mechanicum Explorator craft and mass conveyance barges to transport themselves to the front lines. On the most Warp-drenched battlefields, the horrific war engines have even been known to storm forth from tears in reality, emerging from local Warp rifts called into being by the powers of Chaos.A single Chaos Knight has as much resilience and firepower as a small army. Those that have turned upon or even butchered the rest of their Knightly household are termed Dreadblades by the Ordo Hereticus. They typically operate as lone wolves and mercenaries, lending their immense might to heretical warlords in exchange for powerful relics, arcane knowledge or fief planets upon which they can enact their cruelties.Dreadblades are often followed into battle by hordes of warriors, Chaos Space Marines who revere the Knights' destructive potential, and throngs of Chaos Cultists who worship the machines as manifestations of their Dark Gods' will. At other times, multiple Dreadblades will gather together, focusing their disparate fury towards a single malefic purpose.But even more terrifying than the individualistic Dreadblades are the Knight houses that have fallen in their entirety to Chaos. Those that have sided with Traitor Titan Legions and the Dark Mechanicum are known as "Infernal houses" in the Imperium. They use techno-sorcery and summoned daemonic entities to bolster the already formidable capabilities of their Knight suits.Other Knightly courts, known as "Iconoclast houses," have more varied heretical allegiances; some have maintained oaths of fealty to Heretic Astartes Legions or the Dark Gods themselves, whereas others have renounced their allegiance to the Imperium to carve out their own dread empires.
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Chaos Knights - A Legacy of Betrayal: The history of the Chaos Knights stretches back into the dark recesses of Humanity's past. Long before the Emperor arose on Terra and forged the Imperium of Man, the Knights had established their bastions on worlds across the galaxy. Through countless horrors and long millennia they endured -- but even they were not immune to the corruptions of the Warp.The first Knight houses were established shortly after Humanity began expanding its domain into the stars. Groups of colonists struck out from Terra aboard Long March generation ships, travelling for solar decades or even Terran centuries through the cold void of space to reach their destination worlds.Countless colonists were lost to empyric disasters and navigational errors, while those who arrived successfully upon their new planets were faced with all manner of extreme hardships.Some worlds were battered by savage electrical storms or burned with unrelenting volcanic activity. Others were bathed in exotic radiation, covered in carnivorous flora or infested with strange pathogens that decimated the new arrivals.Many planets played host to sentient indigenous species who violently resisted Human encroachment, leading to bloody wars for supremacy. Yet the hardiest groups of colonists not only endured, but thrived in their new environments.Using Standard Template Construct technology, the pioneers were able to fabricate the structures and machines they needed to assert their dominance over their new planet. Each STC database could replicate a specific creation, repeatedly and without fail. In this way the colonists built vast habitats to shield them from the ravages of their planet's atmosphere and devices to reconstitute life-giving essentials such as food, water and breathable air.In many cases, the vessels that had transported the colonists through space were transformed into fortified enclaves that in time formed the basis for mighty fastnesses. This allowed for the creation of heavy mining tools, refineries and processing plants with which the wealth of the new worlds could be rapidly exploited.STCs were used to create devastating machines capable of annihilating hostile alien races that offered resistance or invaded the burgeoning Human domains. The first Knight suits were both tools of settlement and weapons of war, equally as capable of sawing down towering trees and crossing inimical environments as they were of gunning down hostile xenos.Only the most skilled and forceful individuals were equal to the task of operating the Knights suits, and it was to these warriors that the other colonists turned to for protection and, eventually, leadership. Long bloodlines of pilots emerged, and they were subtly mentally conditioned by the systems of their Thrones Mechanicum to become ever-more stringent and authoritarian. These were the Nobles of the first Knight houses.The planets over which they ruled grew insular, rejecting new advancements in technology in favour of the traditions established and enforced by the Nobles. Due to their isolationist cultures, the Knight Worlds diverged from the path taken by the rest of Humanity, and in doing so were saved from the nightmares that followed.
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Chaos Knights - Consumed by Strife: As rapidly as Humanity expanded into the stars, the collapse of its galactic domain was even swifter. Vast distances between settled worlds led to the emergence of divergent cultures, and with these came rapid genetic evolution and mutation.Individuals emerged with the ability to sense and manipulate the tumultuous Warp that existed parallel to realspace. On some worlds these so-called "psykers" were mercilessly persecuted, being hunted down and slaughtered wherever they were found, but on many they were revered and allowed to rule over their mundane kin.Alongside psykers came other sub-species of Mankind -- Abhumans whose genetic pool had been irrevocably tainted by the environments in which they dwelt. Interstellar wars broke out as the ideologies of neighbouring systems grew ever-more incompatible.Sentient machines turned violently on the masters they had been built to serve, entire planets were overrun by xenos armies, and as worlds burned, many of the wonders of the Age of Technology were lost forever. With the seething tumult came Warp Storms that tore through the void of space.Routes of contact between Humanity's manifold domains were severed, leaving distant regions cut off from one another. Their denizens were forced to face the horrors that befell them in isolation.The Knight Worlds fared better than most in this time of terror and darkness. The Noble houses had swiftly purged mutations that had developed amongst their subjects, and had strangled branches of their own family trees where genetic deviance had appeared. From the first they had rejected thinking machines, trusting instead to hard work and personal sacrifice to make their planets strong, and so were largely spared from the rampages of the Men of Iron during the Cybernetic Revolt.Armed with their Knight suits, they repelled xenos incursions into their domains, and crushed the savage mobs of mutated Humans that came flooding in from nearby planets. The Knight houses fortified their holdings, kept watch over their worlds and endured as the Human galaxy was overtaken by strife.Over long centuries the cultures of these Knight Worlds regressed even further. Superstitions about the enemies of Old Night became enshrined in codes of Noble conduct. The technologies that had allowed their colonist forebears to survive became worn, the knowledge of their functions lost. But the Knights themselves survived, as did their traditions and the peoples whom they had sworn oaths to defend.
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Chaos Knights - Coming of the Emperor: When the Great Crusade spread across the galaxy in the late 30th Millennium, a great number of Knight Worlds were reunited with the rest of Humanity. Vast fleets set out from Terra to find the remnants of Mankind that were scattered amongst the stars, and to bring them under the aegis of the Emperor of Mankind.Many of the worlds to which the Great Crusade came were ruled over by obstinate tyrants -- warlords and despots who had risen to power during the anarchy of the Age of Strife, and who refused to humble themselves before the Emperor's might. These regimes were ended with brutal swiftness, crushed by the armies of the burgeoning Imperium.The first account of a Knight World being rediscovered came from a Rogue Trader named Jeffers. His reports to the Administratum noted both the formidable technology of the Knight suits as well as the loyalty and staunchness of the Nobles who piloted them.In the years that followed, hundreds of other Knight Worlds were encountered and brought into the fold. Most Noble houses were quick to swear fealty to the leaders of the Great Crusade, for in the Imperium they saw their own values of order and duty implemented on an incomparably grand scale.Amongst the myriad organisations that made up the Great Crusade, it was the Mechanicum of Mars that was most successful in securing oaths of fealty from the Knight houses. The Martian Tech-priests coveted the ancient archeotech that existed on these planets, and were eager to exploit the rich mineral wealth of the various Knight Worlds.Many Noble families swore their service to the Mechanicum, though others gave their loyalty directly to Terra and the Emperor. Regardless of who they pledged themselves to, the Knights loyally answered the call to war whenever it came.In return, the Sacristan orders who tended to the Knights were inducted into the secrets of the Omnissiah, regaining many lost secrets of mechanical artifice that allowed them to better serve their masters.
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Chaos Knights - Dawn of Heresy: The Great Crusade saw worlds across the length and breadth of the galaxy brought under the Emperor's almighty rule. But at its zenith the Imperium was shattered by treachery. The Imperial Warmaster Horus and fully half of the Space Marine Legions succumbed to the corruptions of the Dark Gods, and in the name of Chaos launched an apocalyptic campaign against the Imperium.The galaxy was riven by civil war -- the Legiones Astartes slaughtered their erstwhile allies, worlds were incinerated by teeming armies of Heretics, and the light of hope carried forth by the Emperor was replaced by bitter darkness. It was during this time that the first Knights fell to Chaos.Many amongst the Imperium had thought it impossible for the Noble houses to be corrupted. The Thrones Mechanicum to which they were bonded altered the Nobles' psyche and synaptic makeup, conditioning them against harbouring thoughts of betrayal or sedition.Indeed, the majority of the Knight Worlds fought aggressively to stem the tide of heresy, putting down any rebellious elements within their own societies before joining in the battle alongside the Loyalist Space Marine Legions. Due to their sheer power and unflagging loyalty, the Knights were crucial to the Imperial war effort on countless bloody battlefields. Yet it was this same loyalty that led some to side with the Archenemy.Innumerable Mechanicum Forge Worlds sided with Horus, as did many of the Knight houses that had sworn undying fealty to the Tech-priests of those worlds. As the Dark Mechanicum delved deeper into the arts of profane techno-sorcery, so too were the Knights in their service tainted by Chaos.Rune-marked Knights marched to war alongside Traitor Titan Legions, unleashing devastation upon the defenders of the Imperium. Other Fallen Houses upheld their oaths to Space Marine Legions that turned Traitor. The Nobles of these houses followed their own codes of conduct to the letter -- serving without question and answering all calls to war -- and in doing so placed themselves on the path to damnation.Still other Knights turned upon their own houses and renounced all ties to their bloodlines. Some were swayed by the whispering of malefic entities in their dreams, whereas others were bound to the will of the Dark Gods through sorcerous rituals.Thus were the Chaos Knights born, and in the hundred centuries since they have continued to spread death and terror throughout the stars.
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Chaos Knights - An Eternity of Corruption: Knights have continued to fall to Chaos in the millennia since the Horus Heresy. Knight Worlds lying on the edges of raging empyric storms have been inexorably transformed by the outflow of raw Warp energy.On more than one occasion such a planet has been enveloped entirely by a nightmarish tempest only to later re-emerge, its population devoured by Daemons and its war engines hideously transfigured.Other Knights have slowly succumbed to corruption over the long campaigns they have fought on the side of the Imperium. After butchering endless tides of frenzied Heretics for centuries without rest, the pursuit of carnage can become synonymous with duty.This is especially true for those Knights fighting in isolation from their household kin, or in war zones where reality is distorted by the dread influence of Chaos. Caked in the blood of a thousand conflicts, and faced with horror in every direction, the mechanised warriors lose the ability to differentiate between ally and enemy.Even the spectral gestalt of their Throne Mechanicum becomes blinded by the need to kill, not caring who or what is the focus of the Knight's destructive fury. Several Knights thought lost in battle have later been discovered to have fallen to the service of the Dark Gods, and to have continued their slaughters unabated.
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Chaos Knights - Notable Events: The Chaos Knights are descendants of valiant Noble houses, forged long ago when Humanity first ventured into the stars.Many of these Knights once committed acts of great heroism and honour, but this chivalrous past has been buried under the slaughters they have since committed, and is now little more than a source of dimly remembered and tragic myths.
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Chaos Knights - Age of Isolation, M15-M31: The Long March (ca. M15) - Long March generation starships depart from Terra and the Sol System, making centuries-long voyages to colonise the planets of distant star systems. Some of the pioneer groups take with them STCs capable of creating Knight suits, and from them the first Knightly households are born.A Chivalrous Code - As the Noble houses that rule the Knight Worlds are established, so too do the principles of duty and obedience become synonymous with their mighty war engines. Though the cultures that develop on disparate Knight Worlds are as varied as their planetary environments, each adopts strikingly similar conservative notions of virtue and morality that would, in later millennia, come to be known as the "Code Chivalric."The Gilded King - On the world of Aurelion Major during the lost Age of Technology, a Knight known as the Gilded King is piloted for the first time. This inaugural bonding of a Noble and their Knight is recorded through towering relief sculptures carved into the gold escarpments that encircle the planet's equator.'The Age of Strife (ca. M25-M30) - The galaxy is consumed by the horrors of Old Night. Human colonies that had prospered for hundreds of generations collapse in upon themselves, torn apart by warlike xenos, or mutated members of their own populations who become renegade psykers. Mankind's hold over the stars is eradicated almost entirely, but the Knight Worlds stand strong throughout this time of bloodshed and strife, their cultures conservative enough to weather the storm and their people protected by the great war engines.The Great Crusade (ca. 798.M30 - 005.M31) - The Emperor of Mankind's fleets spread out across the galaxy, uniting the Human worlds one by one and annihilating all who pose opposition to His rule. Those Knight Worlds that are discovered are quick to swear oaths of allegiance to the rapidly-expanding Imperium of Man, with the Noble houses pledging their fealty to various Explorator fleets and Titan Legions of the ancient Mechanicum. The Knights themselves become invaluable warriors in the Great Crusade, and by their indomitable power countless other planets are humbled. Yet in the vastness of the galaxy there are Knight Worlds upon which the Emperor's envoys never arrive. These planets continue to cleave to their traditions of old, watching the skies for the incoming threats that have hounded them during the long Age of Strife.
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Chaos Knights - Age of Broken Banners, M31: The Horus Heresy (ca. 005-014.M31) - At the height of its glory, the Imperium is plunged into civil war as the Warmaster Horus leads half of the eighteen Space Marine Legions in open revolt against the Emperor in service to the Dark Gods. The corruptions of the Warmaster spread quickly, with large portions of the Imperial Army and Mechanicum pledging themselves to the Ruinous Powers. Though the Knight houses are amongst the staunchest defenders of the Imperium, even they are not immune to the taint and temptations of Chaos. Through unbreakable oaths to the Traitor Legions, profane experimentations of the traitorous Dark Mechanicum and numerous other perversions of nobility, the first Chaos Knights join in the slaughters perpetrated by Horus.Battle of Beta-Garmon, "The Titandeath" (006-013.M31) - Numerous Traitor Titan Legions engage in battle with their Loyalist counterparts throughout the Beta-Garmon star cluster during the Horus Heresy. Knight houses fight on both sides of the sprawling conflict, upholding oaths to follow the god-machines into the fray. Whole houses are lost in the war zone, their once-mighty engines reduced to flaming wreckage alongside the metallic carcasses of annihilated Titans. House Vextrix, having marched dutifully alongside the Titans of the Legio Mortis, take severe casualties. Those Vextrix Knights who had expressed even the slightest reservation in siding with their bond-lieges against the Imperium are placed on the front lines, where they suffer the greatest losses. The conflict therefore becomes known amongst the nobility of Vextrix's homeworld of Daxos Gemini as "the Great Cull."Battle of Molech (009.M31) - As they journey towards Terra, the Warmaster's fleets descend upon the Knight World of Molech, which is ruled over by the Knights of House Devine. Horus' initial assault devastates many cities and strongholds. The terrified populace turns to the nobility for protection only to find that the Nobles have succumbed to the temptations of Slaanesh and are utterly corrupted. When the Warmaster launches his second attack,the Knights of House Devine attack the remaining Imperial forces from the rear, leaving them with no way to retreat from the invading Heretics. Caught between the treacherous Knights of House Devine and Horus' rampant forces, the shattered remnants of Molech's defenders are slaughtered without mercy.Siege of Terra (014.M31) - The Horus Heresy is brought to an end when the Warmaster and the Emperor are both cut down in battle with each other on the Traitors' flagship in orbit of the Imperial throneworld. Vast numbers of Traitors withdraw from the Sol System to the Warp-riven region of space known as the Eye of Terror. Some of the Knight houses who had fought alongside Horus follow the fleeing forces, others launch new campaigns of brutality across the galaxy, while many return to their own worlds to carve out domains of tyranny.
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Chaos Knights - Age of Degradation, M31-M41: Rise of the Idolators (ca. M31-M36) - In the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, some amongst the Imperium believe the threat of the Chaos Knights to be diminished. However, such wishful thinking is quickly disproven. Even after the Traitors' defeat, Knight houses continue to turn upon the Imperium, swearing allegiance to powerful Chaos Lords or Daemon Princes, while the Dark Mechanicum delves deeper into their profane arts to pervert the ancient technology of the Throne Mechanicum. The Inquisition and later its Ordo Hereticus also become aware of the cults of technically-skilled Idolators who now serve the Fallen Noble households, and through whom corruption is spread to new Knight Worlds.Psychic Reign (ca.M34) - After learning of the existence of the Imperium of Man, the colossal alien cyborg known as the Cacodominus uses its potent psychic abilities to secure the services of seventeen wandering Dreadblades. Each of the Chaos Knights is charged with a different mission -- one is sent to find a sunless planet on which an ancient technological marvel is buried, another is tasked with rounding up and butchering every member of a rare alien species called the Axlo, while another is given the esoteric duty of protecting the time stream against the Tzeentchian Daemon Kairos Fateweaver. Meanwhile, the Cacodominus itself conquers hundreds of systems. When the creature is finally slain by the massed armies of the Legio Cybernetica and Black Templars, its dying psychic scream echoes across the galaxy, even distorting the guiding light of the Astronomican. The resulting backlash burnt out billions of Astropaths across the Imperium and resulted in millions of starships being lost and entire sub-sectors descending into barbarism. But the seventeen Dreadblades who serve it make no effort to seek revenge. Each had been commanded to pursue the individual task they had been given, come what may, and even the death of their liege is of little concern so long as the Cacodominus' will is eventually fulfilled.Wounded Prey - Whilst en route to the War Zone Kilda, the mass conveyance barge Dark Cloud becomes stranded in the Warp with a full lance of Imperial Knights of House Mortan waiting in its hangar. The Gellar Field that shields the disabled craft from the denizens of the Empyrean holds firm at first, until a series of massive objects impact with the ship's hull. The objects turn out to be Chaos Knights of House Khomentis. After clamping themselves to the barge, the Khomentis Knights begin blasting and cutting their way through its outer bulkheads to allow waves of Warp energy to flood inwards. Knowing that the Dark Cloud cannot survive long against such an assault, the Knights of House Mortan venture out onto the barge's exterior to do battle with their corrupted attackers. Though they fight bravely, the Mortan Knights are blasted to scrap by the Chaos Knights, and the souls of their pilots devoured by great flocks of predatory Daemons. With its last line of defence annihilated, the Dark Cloud is swiftly torn apart.The Spoils of Fate - In a single solar decade, nine Knight Worlds fall to the corruptions of Chaos, each launching a campaign of horror that sets dozens of Imperial planets ablaze. Though scattered across different sectors of the Imperium, these Iconoclast houses are found to have a connection that causes great vexation amongst the investigating Inquisitors. During the Great Crusade, Remembrancers had transcribed the ancient legends of each of these worlds, and all nine spoke of a figure that had appeared to their rulers during the Age of Strife. Known only as Manat, he had served as a vizier to powerful leaders of each of the Noble houses, and was reputed to have great powers of foresight. On some of these worlds he was seen as a villain, and on others a hero, but on all he had disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared, taking with him the head of the Noble household he served.Battle of Oumo - The Hatred of Krastellan, a Dreadblade and Fallen Knight of House Hawkshroud, descends upon the planet of Oumo and opens fire on the siege walls of the Agri-world's capital harvester city. The Oumoans, having been granted the sworn service and protection of Hawkshroud, are caught completely by surprise. After sending an astropathic distress signal to the nearby Forge World of Mezoa, they receive a reply from Tech- priest Dominus Telemetenos Vrae ordering them to cease all such communication. Vrae informs the Oumoans that it is a logical impossibility for a Hawkshroud Knight to be attacking them, and therefore firing upon this loyal Knight would be an act of treason against the Omnissiah. This message is disseminated across the planet, and the Oumoan regiments ordered to hold their fire. Without any form of resistance, the Hatred of Krastellan tears its way through the defences of Oumo's harvest cities one by one.The Kreen Scar - House Herpetrax launched a long and brutal campaign through the Kreen Worlds. Stretching over more than a hundred light years, this network of planetary systems served as a vital manufactorum hub in the galactic south of the Ultima Segmentum. Despite concerted defence efforts by the Astra Militarum and Adeptus Mechanicus, the Herpetrax advance progresses with staggering speed. The denizens of worlds that are conquered by the Iconoclast house are enslaved, and are put to work excavating the foundations beneath the towering hive cities in which they live. Billions die in the process, crushed beneath slabs of ferrocrete, buried in catastrophic cave-ins or simply collapsing from starvation and exhaustion. But on several of these planets the Fallen Noble overlords uncover what they are searching for. The long-forgotten remains of ancient Long March generation ships are prised from the earth -- the remnants of failed Human colonies from the Dark Age of Technology. These precious cargoes are taken back to the Fallen Knight World of Jedathra, while the surviving slave populations are exterminated by massed orbital bombardments. Over the course of a generation, the belt of Imperial manufactorum worlds is transformed into a ruined and lifeless stretch known as the "Kreen Scar."Price of Betrayal (ca. M36) - Word spreads across the Imperium of the death of Goge Vandire, the tyrannical Ecclesiarch and High Lord of Terra. Those who are still loyal to Vandire begin exacting their revenge upon the Imperium on multiple fronts, attacking Shrine Worlds and tearing down monuments to Imperial saints. None are more fervent in this regard than Hope’s Shroud. The Freeblade Knight and its pilot -- whose identity was known only to Vandire himself -- had sworn to serve the Ecclesiarch in life and death, and so set about taking revenge on those who had betrayed him. The first targets of the excommunicant Knight's wrath are the Sisters of the Order of the Ebon Chalice, for it was their Matriarch Alicia Dominica that slew Vandire. After a series of escalating battles, Hope's Shroud succeeds in claiming the head of the Order's Canoness Superior. Over the next two millennia, the fanatical Knight claims the heads of other Canonesses Superior, one for each of the six Matriarchs that turned on Vandire. The skulls are hung as trophies from the increasingly warped armour of Hope's Shroud.Dark Siege - Lances from five Fallen houses besiege a Webway portal inside a hollowed out, wandering moon. The portal leads directly to Seyahmva'ar, an outer district of Commorragh ruled over by the Drukhari's Kabal Opaque. Rather than helping to repel the Chaos Knights, Commorragh's Supreme Overlord Asdrubael Vect instead dislocated Seyahmva'ar from the city proper, leaving the Kabal Opaque to be torn apart.Fall of Graggen Keep - On the Death World of Friggenswald, Renegade Astra Militarum infantry regiments lay siege to the towering fortress known as Graggen Keep. Though the keep is defended by only a handful of soldiers, two factors prevent the attackers from achieving a swift victory. The sludgy acidic river surrounding the fortress instantly dissolves those Renegades who attempt to launch an assault. Furthermore, from its position inside the walls, the Freeblade Knight Unflinching Steel fires a ceaseless hail of Rapid-Fire Battle Cannon shells into the ranks of the encroaching army. The Knight had once been a member of House Lucaris, but had abandoned his household when they turned Traitor, and had fought valiantly for the Imperium ever since. Yet the initial victories of the defenders only delayed the inevitable. The Chaos Knights of House Lucaris arrived on Friggenswald and marched upon Graggen Keep. Having served their purpose of holding Unflinching Steel in place, the Renegades withdrww out of firing range while the Lucaris Knights wade through the acid flows surrounding the fortress. A trio of Knights Rampager made short work of the fortress walls, allowing the remaining war engines to pour through the breach and annihilate the defenders. Unflinching Steel was brought down and dismembered by the members of its former household, but was not destroyed. Instead, its battered and mutilated chassis was taken back to the Fallen Knight World of Morda Prime to face judgement.Tower of Scintillus - The High King of Barragon, a Loyalist Knightly household, was abducted by a sorcerous Chaos Cult of Tzeentch. Those Knights that served the king set out to find their liege, eventually tracking his location to the world of Scintillus. But upon entering the reality-bending tower in which the king was imprisoned, each Knight was transformed into a crystalline statue, lifeless and utterly immobile. Only when another Knight entered the tower did the statues come to life and fire upon their erstwhile compatriots.Battle of Tellerax Prime - The Dreadblade Litany of Destruction fought alongside Heretic Astartes of the Iron Warriors Legion during the invasion of the world of Tellerax Prime. Telleraxi infantry regiments establish bristling defensive lines across the planet's sump fields and around key hive cities, but even with the support of an armoured detachment of the Ultramarines 3rd Company they are unable to repel the influx of Chaos warriors. A grinding siege ensues. The Iron Warriors pin their foes in place with ceaseless orbital and land-based bombardments, allowing Litany of Destruction to rove freely, annihilating any Imperial forces unfortunate enough to be caught in its path. Only when the Knight Paladin Ever-Stalwart arrives to aid the besieged forces does the state of battle shift. Amidst the shattered remains of Hive Permillion, the Dreadblade and the Imperial Knight engage in a titanic duel. After an hour of traded blows, the Litany of Destruction gains the upper hand, striking down its Loyalist opponent and readying the killing strike. But the Chaos Knight is denied its victory when a column of Predator tanks fire upon its flank. The Litany tears its way through the armoured column and retreats under the covering fire of the encroaching Iron Warriors, enraged at the Ultramarines for interfering with its rightful kill.The 13th Black Crusade (ca. 999.M41) - Iconoclast households, Infernal households and Dreadblades from across the galaxy flock to the banner of Abaddon the Despoiler, the Warmaster of Chaos, as he launches his 13th Black Crusade. Dread lances march on multiple fronts. In the Mackan System, Chaos Knights of House Khomentis hunt the Howling Griffons' 5th Company, using the mutants of the Stigmatus Covenant to flush the Space Marines from cover. On Belismar, the Dreadblade Bleak Dawn single-handedly wipes out the unsupported Narsine 18th Infantry, filling the Gracien Trench with their corpses. Meanwhile, on Macharia, Chaos Knights of House Vextrix, House Iattol, House Mesmr and House Lucaris battle alongside various warbands of Heretic Astartes to lay waste to the militarised hive cities. Throughout the crusade, many Knights pledge fealty to Abaddon for the first time, whereas others settle blood oaths against the Imperium that had stood for millennia.Slaughter at Armageddon (ca. 999.M41) - In the wake of massive Warp upheavals follwoing the fall of Cadia to the 13th Black Crusade, the first Khornate daemons spill onto the surface of Armageddon, attacking Orks and Imperial soldiers without discrimination. Shortly after, the Dreadblade Incarnate Slaughter, which accompanied the daemonic forces, rises from the gore of the slain.
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Chaos Knights - Age of Merciless Conquest, M41-M42: Note: All dates from this point forward are provisional due to errors in the Imperial Calendar, meaning these events could actually have occurred at any time from the early 41st Millennium to the early 42nd Millennium.The Great Rift Opens (ca. 999.M41) - Savage Warp Storms rage across the breadth of the galaxy, coalescing to form the Cicatrix Maledictum from one side of the galaxy to the other. Scores of Knight Worlds are swallowed as the Great Rift yawns open, and more are beset by the ravenous Warp entities that come spilling from this scar in reality. But to many Chaos Knights, the nightmare divide in the stars is a signal for them to march to war. Dreadblades and Fallen households that had maintained isolated domains of tyranny on the fringes of the Imperium now gather en masse, heeding the clarion call of the Dark Gods.The Nachmund Gauntlet (Unknown Date.M42) - Dharrovar, a Knight World thought lost since the Horus Heresy, is rediscovered inside one of the few known passages through the Cicatrix Maledictum. Imperial envoys are sent to the Nobles of Dharrovar, and entreat them to secure this vital gateway to the Imperium Nihilus that lies captive behind the Great Rift, cut off from the light of the Astronomican. Yet these requests are met with violence. It soon becomes clear that Kaligius, High King of House Mandrakor, has fallen to Chaos, his Throne Mechanicum riddled with daemonic presences. Many of his most loyal Knights follow him into treachery, leading to a devastating civil war on Dharrovar.Conflagration of Rho Zapphire (Unknown Date.M42) - Above the gas giant of Rho Zapphire, a strike force from the White Scars 6th Company fights a war of speed against an invading host of Slaaneshi daemons. The Space Marines race to secure the vital aether-derricks that are suspended in the planet's thermosphere, cutting their way through screaming droves of Daemonettes and Fiends of Slaanesh that skitter along the equatorial gantries, even as more depraved beings pour from the nearby maw of the Great Rift. The fuel from these derricks is crucial for the Imperial fleets withdrawing from the encroaching Warp Storms, but the daemons outnumber the White Scars a hundred times over. The battle appears to take a shift when a flotilla of macro-conveyance barges swoops into low orbit and disgorges its cargo of Knights. But the hope of reinforcements is short lived. The Knights of House Khymere that march onto the floating gantries open fire on the Space Marines, obliterating those few that remain. When cruisers from the Imperial Navy arrive to refuel, the Chaos Knights depart, but not before overloading the core of each aether-derrick. The ensuing chain reactions ignited the volatile atmosphere of Rho Zapphire, incinerating the refuelling fleets as the entire planet exploded.Forge Infernus (Unknown Date.M42) - On the Industrial World of Nemendghast in the Vigilus System,the Master of Possession Vorash Soulflayer and his acolytes transformed a sprawling manufactorum complex into the daemonic foundry known as the Forge Infernus. Among the victims of Soulflayer's vile rituals were two Freeblade Knights that were hobbled and captured while defending Nemendghast from the Chaos incursion. The first Freeblade and its pilot were subjected to agonising Warp exposure, their metal and flesh blasted with pure daemonic energies. The second was pumped full of sludge rendered from the writhing corpses of the recently possessed, the Knight and its Noble drowned in the viscous fluid. Though they resisted the corruptive rituals for almost a Terran year, eventually the Freeblades are broken in body, Throne Mechanicum and soul. The first of them Vorash renames Bale Star, and the second the Hand of Mourning. Each of these Dreadblades swears fealty to its creator before being dispatched on individual quests. Bale Star is sent to find and slay the Baroness of Tanika, a Knight reputed to be the greatest duellist in the galaxy, and to drag the felled Knight suit back to Nemendghast. Meanwhile, the Hand of Mourning is given the true name of an ancient Daemon Prince, and is told to bring this creature to Vorash, one way or another.Stomping Grounds (Unknown Date.M42) - A cloud of Ork Roks plummets to the surface of the Infernal Knight World Cobbran, home of House Qiln. Before the dust of impact has settled, dozens of Stompas bearing the mark of the Deathskulls klan emerge from the crude landing vessels and begin a lumbering march toward the nearest keep. Filled with outrage, the Chaos Knights stride out en masse to meet the invaders, forming a lance of over five hundred roaring war engines with which to charge head-on into their foe. Such is the scale of the ensuing battle, so heavy the metallic footfalls and so destructive the barrages, that the tectonic crust of Cobbran shifts, leading to explosive volcanic activity. Those Knights that are felled are quickly hacked to scrap by wide-eyed Big Meks. Meanwhile every Stompa that is toppled is dragged into the open lava flows by cults of Idolators loyal to House Qiln, and in profane rituals new, fully formed Chaos Knights are summoned into being from the bubbling slag.Dysephamine Campaign (Unknown Date.M42) - The Dreadblade Hatred of Krastellan aligned itself with the Renegade Space Marines known as the Company of Misery. Together they waged a harrowing campaign through the Dysephamine System, which culminated in them enslaving the populace of the world of Dyseph IX. The Company of Misery set about slaughtering every psyker on the planet, but not before a distress call was sent off-world. Yet this call for aid was not only anticipated but planned for by the Hatred of Krastellan. The Dreadblade's own message was added to the distress beacon -- a formal challenge to the Freeblade Sir Hekhtur and his Knight Canis Rex, the so-called "Chainbreaker." The Hatred of Krastellan then travelled to the sole moon of Dyseph IX, and on the barren surface awaited the coming of the renowned Freeblade.To Hunt the Hunters (Unknown Date.M42) - On the Jungle World of Y'tach'grra, a lone War Dog of House Khomentis is cut down by a roving band of Kroot mercenaries. As is their custom, the carnivorous Kroot pry the pilot from the fallen engine and devour his flesh. But in doing so the daemonic entities the Fallen Noble had welcomed into his body are released. After a swift and brutal skirmish, these manifestations are similarly cut down, their essences dissipating back to the Warp, but not before they have marked each of the Kroot mercenaries with a burning rune. More than a Terran year later on a distant world the truth of these markings becomes apparent. A lance of Khomentis Knights attack the Kroot from out of nowhere, having tracked the burning runes through the Warp to take revenge on their prey.Eternal Avarice (Unknown Date.M42) - Upon learning of a chamber filled with ancient archeotech and lost knowledge, the Gilded King sets out on a quest to find this secret repository, and to slay its guardian -- the Freeblade known as the Green Knight.Battle of Vigrid (Unknown Date.M42) - The Great Game for supremacy between the Chaos Gods spills into realspace, leading to a series of hellish conflicts across the worlds deep in the Imperium Nihilus. Greatest of these was the Battle of Vigrid, where vast armies of each of the Ruinous Powers engaged in a sprawling combat. Eventually a contest of champions was proposed whereby the Greater Daemons of each god would engage in single combat. The nightmarish war cries from this contest echoed through the Warp, liquefying the minds of psykers for light years in every direction -- and drawing the attention of House Lucaris. Four Lucaris Knights were sent to engage in the Vigrid tourney, to prove the might of the Iconoclast house. Those Knights that duelled the champions of Khorne, Nurgle and Slaanesh were all victorious, but it soon became apparent that they had been bestowed with a portion of Tzeentch's fate-bending power. These three Chaos Knights managed to escape the battle zone before the daemonic armies descended into open war once more, carrying with them the sorcerous gifts of the Changer of Ways.False Idol (Unknown Date.M42) - After nearly two and a half Terran centuries of ceaseless war, the Knight Rampager Death’s Sabre was covered in a thick layer of shredded skin and rancid fat claimed from its most worthy opponents. Throngs of cultists gather around the mad Knight in battle, displaying their loyalty through acts of increasing depravity. The continued slaughters perpetrated by Death’s Sabre soon drew the admiration of an even more bizarre sect of worshippers, as a teeming pack of Necron Flayed Ones emerged from their bleak dimension. After swiftly butchering the deranged Human followers, the Flayed Ones fell to worship of the Chaos Knight, believing it to be a manifestation of the C'tan Llandu'gor. In its own state of savage madness, Death’s Sabre did not even notice its xenos thralls.Indomitable (Unknown Date.M42) - On countless fronts, the Fallen houses waged war against the myriad fleets of the Indomitus Crusade. Dread lances of Chaos Knights struck worlds where Imperial reinforcements were inbound, daring the approaching armies to meet them head-on, while more rapacious households and Dreadblades laid waste to planets that lay in the wake of the crusade fleets. Many age-old blood debts were settled and even more were incurred as the warped war engines loosed their fury on the Emperor's servants across the divided galaxy.
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Chaos Knights - Path to Damnation: Where each Loyalist Knight represents a long history of honour and self-sacrifice, the Chaos Knights come from a lineage of horror and depravity. Only through unspeakable atrocities and malefic rituals were these Knightly lines able to be corrupted, and the tally of slaughter has only been added to since their fall.Those who pilot Imperial Knights are brave and noble warriors, drawn from ancestral knightly houses. In their eighteenth standard year, aspirants face the Ritual of Becoming, a strange rite where the mind of the Noble is fused with the Knight's Machine Spirit (artificial intelligence), allowing the pilot to occupy the machine's Throne Mechanicum and control it with their thoughts alone.For a Noble to bond with their Throne Mechanicum is a harrowing process. Only the most worthy individuals -- women and men possessed of formidable physical, mental and even spiritual strength -- are able to survive the Ritual of Becoming. Those who do are forever changed.In the fastness of each Noble house there is a sacred room known as the Chamber of Echoes. Within the Chamber of Echoes the would-be pilot is wired into a Throne Mechanicum and left in isolation so that their worth may be judged.Residing inside the Throne Mechanicum are the gheist-like remnants of each of its former occupants. Every one of these electro-spirits was once a Noble, and it is they who assess the new supplicant's worth. Coursing through the neural sockets directly into the Noble's mind, they are able to pry open the supplicant's innermost thoughts and closely guarded secrets.The ritual lasts long and terrible hours, and those Nobles who are found wanting are utterly consumed by the process. But those who are deemed worthy are bonded eternally with the Throne Mechanicum, and with the digital echoes of their forebears who dwell inside it.The Ritual of Becoming is not only the means by which a Noble becomes a pilot, it is a necessary defence against corruption. A Throne Mechanicum is a shield to prevent the awesome power of a Knight being wielded by one capable of treachery. From the moment they Become, a pilot's thoughts are influenced by their Throne, even when they do not sit upon it.Notions of fealty, obligation and hierarchy are emblazoned at the forefront of the pilot's mind, as is a deep and undivided respect for the Noble's ancestors and their household traditions. Such organic mental conditioning should make treachery impossible, but the will of the Dark Gods is strong, and their corruptions truly insidious.To believe any person is immune to the temptations of Chaos is dangerous arrogance. There are many ways that a Knight may stray from the true path laid out in the Code Chivalric, or else be driven from it by force. Most common are those times when Freeblade Knights -- those who have already forsworn their knightly houses due to some shame or tragedy -- find themselves driven to commit ignoble acts to survive.The ghosts of the Thrones Mechanicum are uncompromising and unforgiving, and the judgemental voices of ancestors long passed will lambaste such a fallen Knight mercilessly. Some pilots take their own lives, or abandon the Throne forever -- to a Noble pilot, there is little difference between these two terrible ends. Those who do not, or worse, cannot, are driven swiftly mad.It is this insanity that the Dark Gods prey upon, claiming the Nobles' lost souls and twisting the Machine Spirits of their mechanical steeds into ravening beasts. In recent years, covens of Warpsmiths have taken to capturing lone Knights and giving them over for torture until this horrible end is achieved.There are even whispered rumours that some Renegade Knights no longer contain living pilots at all, but are instead the unwilling hosts to parasitic possessor Daemons who clad themselves in the war engine's adamantium plates as a mortal warrior might don a suit of armour.Rarer and more terrible are those instances when an entire lance, or even a whole knightly house falls into damnation. During the dark days of the Horus Heresy, this was a tragedy that played out many times, most famously with the once glorious House Devine who fell to the temptations of Slaanesh, the Prince of Pleasure. With the Cicatrix Maledictum now splitting the galaxy, such wholesale corruption has become a hazard once again.Here, a compromised Sacristan creeps from one Throne Mechanicum to the next, tainting them with daemonic ichor brewed to drive the Knights' pilots to madness and mutation. There a Baron leads a noble crusade to purge a world of Chaos taint, only to become so immersed in blood that he and his followers degenerate into the very berserk beasts they strode out to slay.Many Fallen Nobles have been seduced by the poisoned promises of the Chaos Gods, just as the Traitor Legions were before them. In some cases, entire Iconoclast or Infernal houses devote themselves to a single deity. They daub that god's sigils upon their Knight suits, raise profane temples and idols to their chosen patron and dedicate the souls of those they slaughter to their empyric master.Others are pantheistic in their worship, with individual Fallen Nobles choosing different patron gods to the remainder of their household, or offering dark prayers to whichever deity they believe will aid them in any given moment.The Chaos Gods are vast entities whose gaze spans all of time and space, and to catch their fleeting regard for even an instant requires deeds so ghastly that they will stain their perpetrator's soul forevermore. Yet for those damned few who earn the gods' blessings the rewards can be great.Suddenly flourishing psychic abilities, boons of physical might or unholy fortitude, even the sudden conjuration of daemonic armies to fight alongside the chosen Noble -- such are the gifts of earthly power for those who sell their eternal soul to the Chaos Gods.The Inquisition's agents have gone to great pains in their efforts to suppress reports of traitorous knightly houses, for the mere notion of such loyal warriors turning Traitor is every bit as horrifying as the concept of Renegade Space Marines. Yet more Knights fall with every passing Terran year, and their devastating rampages have become difficult to conceal.
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Chaos Knights - Iconoclast Houses: The pilots of the first Iconoclast households had already Become before the start of the Horus Heresy. The enormity of the Imperium's fracturing had devastating effects on those Knight houses whose allegiances lay with the Traitors.As the heretical war spread across the galaxy, the ghosts within hundreds of Thrones Mechanicum howled in anguish, their imprinted spirits tortured by the impossibility of upholding their honour in the face of their Traitor masters' deeds of betrayal whilst maintaining their loyalty.The neural outcry was such that some Nobles were driven insane by it, while others suffered gruesome cerebral haemorrhages. Others still followed blindly into damnation, claimed by that most insidious trap of believing honestly that those to whom they had sworn their oaths fought for a just cause.The vast majority of turncoat Nobles, however, were subjected to immense torments. They were ceaselessly assaulted by feelings of shame and hatred, their every negative emotion amplified and echoed by the ancestral spirits of their Thrones Mechanicum.According to the Code Chivalric, failure to perform one's duty is a transgression that can only be absolved through selfless service. As such, these Knights fought all the harder for their treacherous lieges. At the commands of their heretical lords, lances of Chaos Knights tore bloody paths through the Imperium's armies.Once-honourable Nobles led attacks to desecrate cities and enslave the populations of entire planets. Kilometres-high statues dedicated to the Emperor were toppled by Knights' ceaseless bombardments, and in their place profane monuments were erected to glorify the cruelties of the Dark Gods.These attempts to quell their self-loathing through unquestioning service only added further fuel to the fire. The Knights were compelled towards greater extremes of brutality and further depths of depravity, and with their every debased action the screams of their Throne Mechanicum grew louder.Over time the Chaos Knights became unrecognisable as the valiant warriors they once were. Some had transformed into incarnations of carnage. They hacked their way through the steel and flesh of their foes, seeking only to drown their unrelenting anguish in oceans of blood.Others became agents of instability, their motivations and allegiances upended constantly by the hateful tempests that raged in their souls. The growing insanity that festered inside each Chaos Knight corroded their notions of chivalry, twisting concepts of honour and duty into new and nightmarish ideals.These Fallen Nobles justified the most heinous atrocities they committed in the Traitors' name, reasoning that they had been bred to be exemplars of virtue, so every action they took must therefore be virtuous. Whilst incinerating the defenders of an Imperial bastion, a Renegade Knight would conclude that such measures must be necessary, for otherwise their codes of virtue would not allow them to immolate their victims.By the same grotesque logic, if roasting alive a hundred Imperial soldiers was an act of honour, then there could be no greater honour than seeing the entire galaxy set ablaze.The tortures endured by each Chaos Knight pilot served to permanently corrupt their Throne Mechanicum. Upon their death, the imprinted remnants of a Fallen Noble remained in their Throne, where their twisted visions of virtue spread to the other spectral echoes like a rampant digital infection.No longer would the Throne serve to shield the pilot from corruption -- it now fed the depraved desires of those who would bond with it. Bloodlust, sadism and psychosis were fostered in the lines of Fallen Nobles that flowed from the first Chaos Knights, giving rise to the tyrannical warlords of the early Iconoclast houses.Iconoclast houses are defined by the malice and madness that led to their corruption. In place of honour they pursue only conquest, destroying whatever enemies stand before them to expand their tyrannical domains. Many have long histories of depravity that stretch back for thousands of years, though new Iconoclast houses can be formed wherever the taint of the Warp takes hold.
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Chaos Knights - Infernal Houses: Not all Knights fell to Chaos in the same manner as those of the Iconoclast houses. Those whose pilots had sworn allegiance to the Hereteks of the Dark Mechanicum were the subjects of countless dread rituals, each designed to corrupt the supposedly incorruptible technologies of the Thrones Mechanicum. The true knowledge of how the Thrones functioned was beyond the ken of even the most ancient magi, but the colossal military potential of the Knights spurred them to conduct ever-more depraved experiments.On the nightmare Forge Worlds called Hell-Forges, Dark Magi created their own grim simulacra of the Chamber of Echoes, and into these Screaming Oubliettes they dragged the Thrones Mechanicum from captured Knight suits, often with the broken and bloodied pilot still attached.Many of these chambers were lined with arcane devices that were used to bombard the captive Thrones with focused Warp energy. Others bristled with mecha-dendritic tentacles that parasitically fused themselves to the Throne, and through them daemonic entities were able to surge into the host tissue of the cybernetically-wired pilot.Certain sects of the Dark Mechanicum raised up base warrior champions who fought one another for the right to Become. These individuals were not trained in the ways of the Noble houses, but for them the prospect of piloting a Knight blinded them to the dangers of attempting to Become. The results of these procedures were ubiquitously gruesome. But amidst the tortured cries, the explosions of flesh and the scrapcode howls of the tainted Thrones, the magi of the Dark Mechanicum gleaned volumes of morbid data. Arcane procedures were devised to scramble the gheists that dwelt within each Throne.Specterphagic Daemons were summoned to devour the spirit echoes of pilots past. The Thrones Mechanicum and the Knight suits themselves were seeded with pathogenic scrapcode, and in some rare cases the magi used their technologies to open interstitial Warp rifts inside the ancient circuitry clusters. Though only a fraction of the Knight suits and Thrones that were captured survived these torturous experiments, those that did were corrupted beyond redemption, as were any pilots unfortunate enough to survive.Through unspeakable procedures the Dark Mechanicum bonded these Fallen Nobles to their tainted war engines, thus creating the progenitors of the Infernal houses who still serve the Hereteks today.Through close ties with the Dark Mechanicum, the Infernal houses of the present era find ever-more twisted ways to warp their weapons and machinery. In brutal campaigns they strip worlds of their material resources and enslave entire populations, funnelling their plunder into nightmarish rituals to infuse their Knight suits with the power of Chaos.
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Chaos Knights - Dreadblades: The term "Dreadblade" is used by the Ordo Hereticus to denote those Chaos Knights who serve no master, similar to their Loyalist Freeblade counterparts. This notion is not entirely accurate, for certain Dreadblades do indeed pledge themselves to various heretical warlords or profane demagogues, but such loyalty is fleeting, and these wandering Knights will swiftly betray their masters if it proves advantageous.The horrors that cause a Knight to become a Dreadblade are as varied as the currents of Chaos themselves. Some are led onto this path of damnation through illusion and trickery. Others find themselves becoming roving warriors as a result of their growing insanity. Others still choose violent solitude of their own volition as a means to pursue revenge, and to fulfil their sworn oaths of murder.Regardless of the underlying reason, a Knight that turns its back on the Imperium and its own house is forever outcast. Yet this only makes them more deadly. Freed from the bonds of fealty and subservience, there is nothing to stop a Dreadblade pursuing its own nightmarish desires, travelling from war zone to war zone to slake its lust for carnage, or hunting down and destroying all in the galaxy who have offended its twisted dignity.A great deal of Dreadblades hail from houses that are still loyal to the Imperium and the Omnissiah. During the Horus Heresy, when the rest of their houses sided with the Loyalists, individual Knights felt honour-bound to maintain their fealty to the Traitors.Countless such schisms occurred across the galaxy, and though many of the rebelling Knights were permanently silenced in titanic duels, others disappeared into the stars only to re-emerge alongside the armies of the Warmaster Horus.Other Knights who become Dreadblades are those captured in battle, their allies wiped out and their suits damaged to the point that they can no longer fight. Handed over to the Hereteks of the Dark Mechanicum, a long and horrific fate awaits these warriors. Their minds and souls are gradually shattered through the use of sorcerous torture and daemonic rituals. Notions of loyalty and honour are replaced with the depraved ideals of their captors and a screaming desire for carnage.Then there are those Dreadblades who, over the course of long and bloody campaigns, have lost the ability to perceive the path of righteousness. Surrounded by so much slaughter, their only notions of honour are tied to the killing strike of their blade or the obliterative blast of their Rapid-Fire Battle Cannon. Many such Dreadblades are completely unaware that they have fallen from grace, their single-mindedness blinding them to the atrocities that they so wantonly commit.
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Chaos Knights - Idolators: To maintain the integrity of their Chaos Knight suits over the course of countless brutal wars, Fallen Nobles rely on the corrupted artisans known as Idolators. Like those whom they serve, Idolators are an aberrant offshoot of peoples loyal to the Imperium.Where the Sacristan orders are trained by the Adeptus Mechanicus, inducted into the holy mysteries of the Omnissiah so that they might minister to the Knights of the Noble houses, Idolators learn their craft within the screaming soul forges of the Dark Mechanicum.Through diabolic rituals they entreat the entities that dwell within the Warp, sacrificing living victims and mighty machines on great cog-shaped altars. Through such practices they glean knowledge of how Chaos Knights function, and -- more importantly -- they learn how to desecrate the ostensibly incorruptible technologies of the Thrones Mechanicum.Often times there will be multiple cabals of Idolators dwelling on each Fallen Knight World, each with the ability to repair battle damage sustained by the mechanical suits. The power of these cabals waxes and wanes with the services they can provide to the Fallen Noble house.Some know the secrets to performing mecha-inductive rituals that will vastly augment a prominent Knight's power. Others may be able to subjugate their liege Noble's rivals through the installation of psychic yokes and spiritual shackles.Then there are those Idolators who have learnt the sorcerous ways of the Warp, and can provide glimpses of the future so that a Knight despot can better direct their next campaign of terror.Competition between cabals is encouraged by the corrupted nobility, and it is common for wars to break out amongst opposing groups of Idolators. Should a cabal fall out of favour with the Fallen Nobles they serve, their flayed corpses may be used to decorate the Fallen house's Knight suits.However, such actions are not taken lightly, for to incur the ire of the Idolators is to invite a nightmarish demise. Many a Fallen Noble who has slaughtered an Idolator has subsequently been devoured by their own Knight suit, or has had their soul ripped to screaming pieces by a Warp-surge within their Throne Mechanicum.The most cunning Fallen Nobles therefore ensure that the Idolators in their service have some other target upon whom such malice is likely to fall.
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Chaos Knights - Fallen Knight Worlds: As the Knight houses became ever-more corrupted, so too were their Knight Worlds transformed into horrific mockeries of their former glory. Where once the denizens of these planets had looked to their Nobles for leadership and protection, they were swiftly reduced to a terror-filled existence.The populations of entire cities were hunted for sport by their Knightly overlords. Fallen Nobles supplied tithes of living Humans to their heretical lieges to be used in sadistic rituals or the forging of daemonic pacts. Where once the would-be Knight pilot prepared for their duty over standard years of training, and proved their worth in solemn duels, they now engaged in competitive slaughters of their own subjects.Depraved cultures took root in every echelon of society on these Chaos Knight worlds. Teeming Chaos Cults worshipped the Dark Gods openly, Fallen Nobles competing to raise the greatest temples to the Ruinous Powers.The landscapes became pocked with charnel pits that overflowed with the corpses of defeated enemies. These planetsthat had been bastions of order throughout the Age of Strife metamorphosed into deep wells of anarchy from which the taint of Chaos seeped further into reality.
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Chaos Knights - Chaos Knight Transformations: It is not only the pilots, but the Knight suits themselves that are warped by the corrupting power of Chaos. Daemonic energies course through the weapon systems and ancient circuitry of these dread war machines, and their tortured Machine Spirits (artificial intelligences) growl like wounded beasts. Over time, even the armour plates and bristling armaments of the Chaos Knight are mutated beyond recognition.Chaos corruption seeded into a Throne Mechanicum spreads into the rest of the Knight like rot. Machine Spirits that drive the Knight's massive actuators are bent to the insane will of the pilot and the spectral inhabitants of the Throne. No longer does the war engine march with bold and purposeful strides, its every colossal movement the result of generations of discipline and training within the Noble houses.Instead, the Chaos Knight lopes forwards with predatory haste, eager to drink in the deaths of its next band of foes. Gone is the imperative to protect its allies, to form the immovable centre of a defensive line or the unstoppable speartip of a combined charge.The Chaos Knight's Machine Spirit cares nothing for those alongside whom it fights -- whether they live or die is of little concern, so long as it can engage in rampant slaughter.Ancient mechanical joints that had been ritually oiled for scores of centuries now spark and crackle as they are driven into motion. Plasma Reactors roar with fury as they are fired into overdrive to supply the Chaos Knights with the immense power they need to loose their wrath.Gouts of scintillating flame burst from exhaust ports, scorching the surrounding metal with their jagged tongues and warping the very air around the Knights' immense carapaces. As the Chaos Knights advance, they tilt their Ion Shields to the fore, the better to ward off the enemy's incoming fire before they charge headlong into the fray.Gone are concerns of strategic forethought or target prioritisation, and in their place is the predatory desire to wreak indiscriminate slaughter, to torment those too weak to fight back, or to claim the most magnificent trophy from the enemy in the name of personal glory.If a Loyalist Knight is akin to its Noble's valiant steed, Chaos Knights are closer to rabid warhounds, their Fallen Noble pilots fighting constantly to retain dominance over their hate-filled war engine and force it to obey their will.Drooling blood or acidic oils, ocular lenses burning with murder-lust and hulls wreathed in miasmal fumes or crackling hellfires, it is clear to all who look upon Chaos Knights that whatever nobility resided within these deranged war engines, it has long soured into hate and madness.Some bodies within the Imperium stringently resist the notion that Chaos Knights could possibly exist, and more than one internecine doctrinal conflict has erupted upon Adeptus Mechanicus Forge Worlds whose Tech-magi found themselves divided on this point.Regardless of such wilful self-delusion, the Ordo Hereticus has produced grimoires in which war engines have been declared Questor Traitoris in High Gothic and subsequently redesignated. In part this is necessary because Fallen Nobles soon abandon the age-old doctrines of armament obeyed by Loyalist houses, choosing instead to arm their Knights with whatever combinations of weaponry best suit their preferred methods of murder.Chaos-tainted Armigers are known as War Dogs. The lightest walkers of the Fallen Noble houses, they are also the most wanton in their savagery. They seek out unprotected flanks and isolated enemies, and crush whatever resistance can be brought to bear against them.Questoris Pattern Knights are reclassified as Knights Despoiler. Making up the bulk of many Iconoclast and Infernal houses, their thick armour and punishing arrays of weaponry allow them to wreak untold havoc on any battlefield. Often it is the pilot of a Knight Despoiler who reigns as the despot of a Fallen house, directing the house's murderous campaigns and charging at the head of each brutal assault.Corrupted Dominus Pattern Knights are designated as Knights Tyrant, and it is these who are most likely to have fallen to Chaos in the throes of endless combat. Practically Titan-class in size and resilience, it is the task of entire armies to fell such a towering engine of destruction.The longer a Chaos Knight has been corrupted, the more physically warped it becomes. Internal mechanisms burst through its outer carapace, winding together to form rows of irregular spikes. Gun muzzles sprout teeth and gauntleted fists curl into cruel claws.In extreme cases the structure of the towering machine contorts into new configurations, legs bending backwards on mutated joints, Vox grille splitting into a snarling maw. Known as "Abhorrent-class Knights," these deformed engines are nightmares of metal and flesh. They lope hungrily towards wherever the fighting is thickest, annihilating all before them with streams of gunfire and brutal swings of their close-quarters armaments.So twisted are these Abhorrent-class Knights -- both in form and spirit -- certain Ordo Hereticus Inquisitors have speculated they may have been created from STC machines corrupted by the Dark Mechanicum.As grotesque as the exterior of a Chaos Knight becomes, the cockpit where the pilot sits enthroned is even more horrific. In many Knights, the Fallen Noble is fused bodily to the Throne Mechanicum, their flesh melding with the surrounding metal, their neurons parasitised by manifold dendritic relays. As the mechanical suit around them absorbs ever-more corrupting psychic energy, the pilot is physically warped into a being of pure Chaos.Some are absorbed completely by their Throne Mechanicum. Their body peels open like a rotten carcass, forming a cage of splayed ribs and exposed organs inside which the next pilot can be seated. Over multiple generations, such corrupted Thrones take on the appearance of a morbid rose, with layer upon layer of fleshy fronds sprouting from them, each with a dim portion of the original pilot's sentience remaining.Others pilots devolve into Chaos Spawn while atop their Thrones. Transformed into amorphous beasts comprised of horribly mutated muscle and bone, they thrash in a state of abject insanity. Yet a portion of their consciousness remains held within the Throne, allowing them to still control their Knight suit and experience the true horror of their own existence.
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Chaos Knights - Infernal Quests: When Renegade Knights gather in great number they are compelled to swear grim oaths to the Dark Gods. In a twisted parody of their former nobility, they vow to complete mighty tasks on pain of death and dishonour.Such deeds may include the burning of a Cardinal World or other great place of Imperial faith, the hunting of some feted Imperial hero, or the wholesale butchery of a star system whose defenders have offended the Dark Gods with their simple resistance.Once they have set themselves to such an Infernal Quest, Renegade Knights will not relent until either they emerge victorious, or they are slain to the last.
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Chaos Knights - Types of Chaos Knights: Hell-Strider - The Hell-Strider is the smallest of the Daemon Knights, but still stands many times the height of a man. They are armed with Lascannons and short-range, Knight-sized Melta Weapons. Hell-Striders are extremely mobile, able to flush the enemy out of woods and ruins with their powerful short ranged weaponry. Given sufficient numbers, Hell-Striders are even capable of toppling a Titan, picking off their prey's Void Shields with their Lascannons before closing in for the kill with their Melta-beams.Hell-Scourge - Hell-Scourges are one of the largest patterns of Slaaneshi Daemon Knights. As living machines in the service of the Prince of Chaos, they have crushed countless opponents in the last ten millennia, screeching deafening cries across the battlefield. They are the perfect predators, hunters who mercilessly run down their quarry with the bounding strides of their elegant, powerful legs. The Hell-Scourges attack without warning. As one appears, the enemy turn their weapons on its blurred form, only to see it disappear. At that moment, others attack from all sides, mowing through armour and flesh with their massive Castigator Cannons. Hell-Scourges possess a certain pack instinct and are in constant telepathic communication with each other. As such, they make exceptionally well co-ordinated assaults, out-flanking their enemies with ease. This telepathic contact seems to encompass all Hell-Scourges present on the battlefield, or perhaps even further. This enables Hell-Scourge detachments exceptional flexibility on the battlefield.Hell-Knight - Hell-Knights are one of the most specialised types of Daemon Knights. Aside from Bolters, their main weapon is a Thermal Cannon which, albeit short-ranged, has enough power to pierce almost any armour plate with relative ease. Hell-Knights are often used to hunt down enemy Knights and Titans, exploiting their speed to attack from the sides and overwhelm opponents. In addition to this, they are perfectly suited to perform ambushes, and are often used in this respect. A notable exploit of the Hell-Knights took place on the Hive World of Kado as part of a massive daemonic incursion. Imperial forces and the Titans of the Legio Crucius suffered grave losses in the defence of that world's capital hive city. As the Titans fired upon the advancing hordes of Chaos, felling hundreds upon hundreds of daemons and Heretics, a large force of Slaaneshi Daemon Knights infiltrated the hive city's massive subterranean transportation network. As the battle raged above them, the Chaos walkers sped through the dimly lit tunnels and corridors, quickly obliterating any resistance they encountered. On the second day of the hive city's siege, the Daemon Knights emerged from beneath the ground and burst into the main streets and arcades of the city, indiscriminately destroying everything, killing thousands of helpless citizens. The transports of the Adeptus Arbites arrived, but these too were totally crushed and the Hell-Knights fought their way back to the surface. They emerged within firing distance behind the Titans of the Legio Crucius. With a single massed salvo from the Daemon Knights' Thermal Cannons, nearly the entirety of the Loyalist Titan battlegroup was destroyed, the august forms of the Titans turned into molten slag. Amongst the victims of this attack was the colossal Praeco Deictus, an Imperator-class Battle Titan which had survived the grim days of the Horus Heresy and brought victory to the Imperium on over a thousand worlds. As Hell-Knights are super heavy they cannot be pinned in combat except by other super heavy vehicles or Titans. Anything smaller than this is simply pushed aside by the massive war machine. Hell-Knights are excellent at infiltrating enemy positions, setting ambushes for enemy supply columns and attacking enemy support detachments and artillery.Abhorrent-class Knights - Abhorrent-class Knights are Chaos Knights of any standard class who have been so warped by the energies of the Warp that their very structures have mutated into savage new forms. These war engines are often hybrids of the Knight's original mechanical form and daemonic flesh grafted onto its frame by the reality-reshaping powers of Chaos.War Dog - War Dogs are those light-weight, Armiger Pattern Knights like the Armiger Helverin and the Armiger Warglaive that have been seduced by the promises of Chaos. There are several different variants of the War Dog that are used for various different tactical roles among the Questor Traitoris, including the following:War Dog ExecutionerWar Dog StalkerWar Dog KarnivoreWar Dog BrigandWar Dog HuntsmanKnight Despoiler - This class includes the Chaos-corrupted versions of the most commonly employed Questoris Pattern Knights, including the Knight Errant, Knight Paladin, Knight Warden, Knight Gallant, Knight Crusader, Knight Preceptor, and the Questoris Knight Styrix and Questoris Knight Magaera that are relics of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy.Knight Desecrator - A Knight Desecrator is a type of Questoris Pattern Knight that excels at close-to-mid-range combat, particularly hunting down other war engines and destroying fortified positions.Knight Rampager - A Knight Rampager is a type of Questoris Pattern Knight that excels at melee combat. Knights Rampager are the Knight equivalent of uncontrolled berserkers, launching themselves into close combat with the foe without care or concern for their own survival or the tactics of their allies.Knight Abominant - A Knight Abominant is a type of Questoris Pattern Knight that is capable of unleashing psychic attacks by using the Warp Storm Discipline.Knight Tyrant - This class includes those Dominus Pattern Knights, such as the Knight Castellan and the Knight Valiant, that have been turned to the service of theDark Gods.
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Chaos Knights - Questor Traitoris Heraldry: Though the heraldry of Chaos Knights within a given Iconoclast or Infernal house follows the same pattern, there is a great deal of diversity between individual Knights, with each bearing markings that tell of its unique and bloody history.The panoply of Dreadblades is even more diverse. These Chaos Knights eschew household markings in favour of personal emblems, and often bare twisted remnants of former Imperial iconography.
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Chaos Knights - Notable Chaos Knight Houses: House Ærthegn - Accepted amongst the ranks of the Imperial Knight houses by the writ of Horus, and treated by their peers with disdain and wary hostility, the Knights of House Ærthegn were masters of the marauder's bloody trade. Following the Archtraitor's defeat, House Ærthegn was driven along with the rest of the Traitor Legions into the Eye of Terror, where they remain to this day. They serve Chaos Undivided.House Arcanus - House Arcanus is a Renegade Knight house that fell to the service of Tzeentch and was among the forces in service to the Changer of Ways that successfully invaded the Stygius Sector, during the Stygius War.House Atrax - Founded sometime during the Age of Strife and rediscovered during the Great Crusade by the dour Mechanicum Tech-adepts of the Forge World of Cyclothrathe in the latter 30th Millennium, this unfortunate Knight house from the world of Arrian was forced into indentured servitude in accordance with the Sidon Protocols. These unfortunate circumstances led to House Atrax's tragic fall during the Horus Heresy. At the end of this tragic conflict, House Atrax, along with the rest of the Traitor Legions, were driven into the Eye of Terror. House Atrax served Chaos Undivided.House Caesarean - During the Horus Heresy this Knight house threw their lot in with the Traitor forces of the Warmaster Horus. Notably, they took part in the Battle of Tallarn as part of the first Traitor reinforcements and provided support to the Legio Krytos. During that campaign they faced the Loyalist Legio Gryphonicus Titan Maniples in Tallarn's southern polar regions.House Chromatic - House Chromatic is a Renegade Knight house that fell to the service of Tzeentch and was among the forces in service to the Changer of Ways that successfully invaded the Stygius Sector, during the Stygius War.House Devine - House Devine fell under the sway of Slaanesh, and was the first of the Knight houses to betray the Imperium of Man and the Mechanicum. On the planet of Molech, the sudden defection of House Devine proved to be the pivotal factor in the defeat of the Loyalist forces seeking to halt Horus' relentless advance on Terra. At the end of this tragic conflict, filled with righteous indignation, a combined strike force of Knights from Houses Cadmus, Terryn and Borgius annihilated the turncoats of House Devine as Imperial forces reclaimed Molech.House Drakon - During the dark days of the Occlusiad War, in 550.M37, for the first time in thousands of Terran years, a knightly house betrayed its oaths of loyalty, joining the Apostles of the Blind King to cause ruinous destruction across the northwestern fringe of the Milky Way Galaxy. Though the Blind King's rogue Tech-priests were eventually defeated, the traitorous Knights of House Drakon remain unaccounted for.House Drear - House Drear is a Renegade Knight house that fell to the service of Nurgle and was among the forces in service to the Plague God that successfully invaded the Realm of Ultramar during the Plague Wars.House Felcarn - There is little information on this formerly loyal knightly house in Imperial records. It is said that House Felcarn became corrupted from within by Chaos. Rumours state that a single surviving member of that family somehow escaped the subsequent Inquisitorial purges, proving his innocence, and went on to prove himself as the Freeblade known as "Penitent Blade," through his tireless efforts to rid his world of the Chaos Cults that plagued it. House Felcarn served Chaos Undivided.House Gotrith - House Gotrith is a Knight house that betrayed the Emperor during the Horus Heresy and provided support to the Legio Mortis during the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Herpetrax - The Herpetrax are considered an Iconoclast house, and they have served the powers of Chaos for many centuries. House Herpetrax is one of the few members of the Questor Traitoris to have never served the Imperium of Man in any form, having remained independent since the Age of Technology when their world was first colonised. Though their homeworld of Jedathra was invaded by an Imperial force in the 36th Millennium, the Chaos Knights' strong connection to the Ruinous Powers provided them the strength to throw back the Imperial troops and maintain their independence. Since that time, the Chaos Knights of House Herpetrax have proved to be a thorn in the side of the Emperor's realm.House Hyboras - House Hyboras is a Renegade Knight house that repudiated its oath of loyalty to the Imperium of Man during the Horus Heresy. It provided support to the Legio Vulpa during the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Hydrax - House Hydrax is a Knight house that betrayed the Emperor and joined the Warmaster Horus' forces during the Horus Heresy. Later in that conflict they fought alongside House Medusos against the Loyalist Knights of House Chimaeros and House Draconis of the Knight World of Adrastopol led by their High King Rhoderic Chimaeros. House Hydrax served Chaos Undivided.House Ioeden - House Ioeden is a Renegade Knight house formerly of the Questor Mechanicus that repudiated its oath of loyalty to the Mechanicum and the Imperium of Man during the Horus Heresy. It provided support to the Legio Vulpa during the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Ju'll - There is little information on this formerly loyal knightly house in official Imperial records or from what world they originally hailed from. All that is known is that they were allied to the traitorous Legio Mortis Titan Legion. Its fate is unknown. House Ju'll served Chaos Undivided.House Korvax - House Korvax is an Infernal house of the Dark Mechanicum in service to Be'lakor, the first Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided, and a splinter of the Loyalist House Raven corrupted by the Dark Master during the Charadon Campaign of the Era Indomitus. From their mist-wreathed keeps on the penumbral Fallen Knight World of Korvosi, the Chaos Knights of House Korvax spread the dark corruption of Chaos.House Khomentis - House Khomentis is a Renegade Knight house of Chaos Knights and an Infernal house in service to the Dark Mechanicum. Though once loyal to the Imperium, the house's homeworld of Matarakh was struck by a daemonic invasion in the 33rd Millennium. During this time House Khomentis was turned to the service of Chaos and the Dark Mechanicum. Its Fallen Nobles are most famous for actively seeking out daemons in the hope of becoming possessed and further corrupting their Knight to the service of the Dark Gods.House Khymere - House Khymere is a Renegade Knight house of Chaos Knights. The Khymere are considered an Iconoclast house, though for thousands of years they were staunchly loyal to the Imperium. After the opening of the Great Rift in the late 41st Millennium House Khymere was corrupted to the service of Chaos when its homeworld was unexpectedly attacked by a force of the Indomitus Crusade, whose Space Marines claimed Chaos-corrupted House Khymere Knights had been attacking Imperial worlds. Unwilling to make war against the Imperium they had so long defended, the entire house fled into the Warp Storms of the Great Rift. Their exposure to the empyrean energies of the Warp corrupted many of the Khymere Knights, who returned to realspace filled with hatred for those they felt had betrayed them. Unknown to the Chaos Knights, their travels in the Warp had also displaced them in time. The Renegade Knights had been thrust into their own past, unleashing the very attacks that had led to the Imperial assault that resulted in their damnation.House Kepsydra - House Kepsydra is a Renegade Knight house that repudiated its oath of loyalty to the Imperium of Man during the Horus Heresy. It provided support to the Legio Krytos at the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Lucaris - House Lucaris is a Renegade Knight house of Chaos Knights. Of all the Iconoclast houses of the Renegade Knights, there are none more bold nor tenacious than House Lucaris. They have waged multiple barbaric campaigns against the Imperium, butchering those who fight in the Emperor's name in all corners of the galaxy, and over the course of ten thousand Terran years have reaped a toll of carnage too high for any single scriptorum to record. They have been called the "House of Serpents," the "Fanged Knights" and many other names, but are always synonymous with terror.House Makabius - Transformed by the century-long civil war that had engulfed their homeworld of Baroda in the Grail Abyss, House Makabius was always known for its bellicose temper, and some would even say avarice and recklessness. Makabius served Mortarion the Reaper, Primarch of the grim Death Guard Legion, during the Horus Heresy. At the end of that tragic conflict, House Makabius, along with the rest of the Traitor Legions, were driven into the Eye of Terror.House Mandrakor - An intermittent passage through the Great Rift was discovered in the early 42nd Millennium, yet it brought little hope to the Imperium. The Cicatrix Maledictum had at least one gap, although others were reported but not confirmed. The passage was near the Eye of Terror, which had been avoided by Navigators since the Great Crusade, for Warp Storms and strange anomalies had always made the region too dangerous to travel. There, when the swirling nebula lulled, was revealed the Nachmund System, near to Agripinaa on the near side of the rift. The Tyrant King of its primary world, High King Kaligius, ruled over a House of Renegade Knights on the world of Dharrovar that had not been seen since the Horus Heresy. Claiming Old Night had returned to plague the galaxy once more, Kaligius rejected communications from the Imperium, instead making pacts with Renegades and pirate fleets. Some starships have run the Nachmund Gauntlet successfully, but many more have been destroyed attempting the journey -- the ruined hulks of innumerable craft hang suspended in space as a voidship graveyard. In order to end their threat to the Imperium, Lord Commander Guilliman has launched a long campaign to seize the Nachmund System, and House Mandrakor are currently defending Dharrovar from an invasion by the Imperium's forces. However, only Kaligius' most loyal Knights followed him into treachery against the Emperor and a civil war has now broken out within House Mandrakor.House Morbidia - House Morbidia started its existence as one of the very first Knight households in service of the Omnissiah's priesthood on Mars and was one of the early rivals of the legendary Knights of Taranis and House Zavora. Yet where these Houses were to rise high in the esteem of the Martian priesthood, House Morbidia would fall in disgrace; sparking an internecine war that would see it defeated and shackled to the will of the Fabricator-General. Its final fate is unknown. It served Chaos Undivided.House Mordred - House Mordred is a Renegade Knight house formerly of the Questor Mechanicus that repudiated its oath of loyalty to the Mechanicum and the Imperium of Man during the Horus Heresy. It provided support to the Legio Suturvora during the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Medusos - House Medusos is a Knight house that betrayed the Emperor and joined the Warmaster Horus' forces during the Horus Heresy. Later in that conflict they fought alongside House Hydrax against the Loyalist Knights of House Chimaeros and House Draconis of the Knight World of Adrastopol led by their High King Rhoderic Chimaeros. House Morbidia served Chaos Undivided.House Mykorphas - House Mykorphas is a Chaos Knight house that serves the Plague God Nurgle. As a result of this allegiance, the Mykorphas Fallen Nobles have seen their Knights Despoiler become slowly coated in living rust.House Niagma - House Niagma is a Renegade Knight house formerly of the Questor Mechanicus that repudiated its oath of loyalty to the Mechanicum and the Imperium of Man during the Horus Heresy. It provided support to the Legio Vulpa during the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Oroborn - House Oroborn was a Questor Mechanicus Knight house that turned Renegade during the Horus Heresy and provided Knight support to the Legio Mortis at the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Perdaxia - There is little information on this formerly loyal knightly house in official Imperial records or from what world they originally hailed from. During the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, they answered the call of the mad Archmagos Inar Satarael, and willfully took part in the Invasion of Paramar V. They also provided Knight support to the Legio Fureans at the Battle of Beta-Garmon. House Perdaxia served Chaos Undivided.House Rajha - There is little information on this formerly loyal knightly house in official Imperial records or from what world they originally hailed from. During the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, the ghost-grey Knights of House Rajiha answered the call of the mad Archmagos Inar Satarael, and willfully took part in the Invasion of Paramar V and the Battle of Beta-Garmon where they provided Knight support to the Legio Fureans.House Senica - There is little information on this formerly loyal knightly house in official Imperial records or from what world they originally hailed from. All that is known is that they were allied to the traitorous Legio Mortis Titan Legion. House Senica served Chaos Undivided.House Slughorn - House Slughorn is a Renegade Knight house that fell to the service of Nurgle and was among the forces in service to the Plague God that successfully invaded the Realm of Ultramar during the Plague Wars.House Thryn - House Thryn hails from a savage world where the only law is that of the blade, and thus every Knight Despoiler in their ranks wields a Reaper Chainsword, as melee combat is a requirement for their Knights.House Turbidos - House Turbidos was a Renegade Knight house that participated in the Battle of Beta-Garmon during the Horus Heresy and provided support for the Legio Tempestus.House Vextrix - House Vextrix was a Questor Mechanicus Knight house that turned Renegade during the Horus Heresy and long provided Knight support to the Legio Mortis, including at the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Vorran - House Vorran is home to Zir Gedrim the Mahj, the Fallen Noble pilot of the Chaos Knight Sorrowsworn.House Vrachul - House Vrachul is a Renegade Knight house of Chaos Knights and an Infernal house in service to the Dark Mechanicum. Sometime after the Great Rift's creation during the Era Indomitus, Vrachul was among the the Chaos forces that invaded the Talledus System, precipitating the Talledus War. Due to pacts made with the Iron Warriors Warpsmith Etrogar, House Vrachul and the Chaos Knights of House Khomentis aided the Iron Warriors in their invasion of the Fortress World of Ghreddask in the Talledus System.House Vyridion - House Vyridion was a household of Imperial Knights native to the world of Highrock that existed at the foundation of the Imperium of Man. Through treachery and to their ever-lasting shame, House Vyridion broke its vows of fealty to the Imperium and joined the forces of the Warmaster Horus Lupercal. Yet, House Vyridion recognised the error they had made and broke all ties with their former allies. House Vyridion was called upon by the Emperor's own bodyguard, the Legio Custodes, to fight alongside them in defence of the Imperial Webway Project in the dungeons of the Imperial Palace.House Xerathon - House Xerathon was a Questor Mechanicus Knight house that turned Renegade during the Horus Heresy and provided Knight support to the Legio Mortis at the Battle of Beta-Garmon.House Wyvorn - Once a loyal House of Imperial Knights from the proud Knight World of Adrastapol, House Wyvorn is now a mere footnote in Imperial history, the entire House having been declared reductum hereticum extremis by the High Lords of Terra following their betrayal during the Donatos Uprising. House Wyvorn served Chaos Undivided.Rusthounds - The Rusthounds are a Renegade Knight house in service to the Plague God Nurgle who are all former members of House Krast, a Questor Mechanicus House long in service to the Adeptus Mechanicus.
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Chaos Knights - Chaos Knight Relics: Amongst the most coveted relics of the Fallen Noble houses of the Chaos Knights are those whose destructive technologies have been lost to the march of time, as well as those that have been imbued with the power of the Dark Gods. More than once has a war been waged between households for possession of one of these malefic artefacts.The Blasphemous Engine - To alter the workings of a Knight's Plasma Reactor is an act of heresy against the Omnissiah. But the magi of the Dark Mechanicum revel in such profane ingenuity. In rituals that can take solar decades or even Terran centuries to conduct, these heretical Adepts can bind a Greater Daemon within the reactor of a Chaos Knight, allowing the war machine to siphon off the enormous power of the caged entity. This artefact is only ever used by Chaos Knights of Infernal houses or Dreadblades.Veil of Medrengard - At some point during the 33rd Millennium, the Warpsmiths of the Iron Warriors crafted an artefact named for the Traitor Legion's home Daemon World. Known as the Veil of Medrengard, this device appears to be based off an STC that either has not been uncovered in any other part of the galaxy, or has been so twisted by Warp corruptions as to become unrecognisable. When installed in a Knight suit, it projects a barrier of energy of far greater power than a standard Ion Shield. The Veil of Medrengard was originally gifted to the Fallen Nobles of House Garras for their service during the Horus Heresy, but has since been passed to many other Iconoclast houses.Khornate Target - Wrought from the metallic carapaces of slain Imperial Knights and embossed with the skulls of their pilots, the Khornate Target pulsates like a throbbing heart as its bearer draws closer to its enemies. When a Fallen Noble activates this cursed shield, psychic barriers are silenced and technological force fields blink out of existence. By removing the esoteric defences of both their enemies and their own Chaos Knight, the pilot opens a window in which unadulterated carnage can occur.Tzeentchian Pyrothrone - The gheists that inhabit this constantly burning Throne Mechanicum are all members of the Tzeentchian cult. Through their whispers they impart to the bonded Fallen Noble the malefic secrets they learnt across many lifetimes of arcane study, divulging the horrors known only to those who serve the Changer of Ways. Such is the power contained within this Throne that the Fallen Noble is able to manipulate the Warp from within their Knight suit, summoning pillars of coruscating fire to immolate their enemies, or rebuffing the psychic conjurations that are levelled against them.Helm of Warp-Sight - Only six of these faceplates were crafted by the heretical Magos Vex- Prodotian before he was slain by warriors of the Grey Knights. It is said that this techno-blasphemer adapted Knight Helms to allow the pilot constant vision within the Warp -- showing them glimpses of the future to guide and enhance their aim, but also inevitably driving them insane through their exposure to the terrors of the Empyrean. It can only be used by the pilots of Questoris Pattern (Abhorrent-class) Chaos Knights.The Diamonas - Towards the end of the Moirae Schism in the 35th Millennium, a radical sub-sect of the Moirae creed known as the Xarisians indulged in rampant techno-heresy in the attempt to win the civil war that split the Adeptus Mechanicus. Hunted down as Hereteks even by the members of their own creed, the dark adepts of the Xarisians were slaughtered and their malefic technologies destroyed. However, one of their creations -- the powerful Laser Destructor known as the Diamonas -- survived the war, and it is said that many bitter battles have been fought amongst the Fallen houses for possession of this remarkably powerful Knight weapon.The Tyrant's Banner - The dark runes of power emblazoned upon this banner carry a great weight amongst the worshippers of the Dark Gods. When a Chaos Knight bearing this heraldry arrives within a war zone, planets in nearby sectors that have sworn fealty to the Tyrant's house will do anything to fulfil the tithes that are demanded. Whole continents are stripped of resources and offered as tribute, while cities are slaughtered in bloody sacrifice. But these runes are not merely symbolic. In battle, the power of the Warp pulsates from this banner, enrapturing the servants of darkness, binding them to the pilot's will and increasing their morale and coordination. It can only be properly displayed by Questoris Pattern Chaos Knights.The Teeth That Hunger - It is said the deadly sharp teeth of this Reaper Chainsword spin thrice the speed of lesser weapons, resulting in a horrific scream roaring from the weapon as it cuts through its foes. However, to bear such a weapon is to forever fight to keep its insatiable hunger at bay, for if it is not given enough souls to devour, it may instead feed upon the life force of the Knight pilot who carries it.Rune of Nak'T'Graa - A number of Dreadblades who have been exiled from their houses join the Cult of Nak'T'Graa -- a mythical king from the Age of Strife who sought to achieve godhood. Those that submit to the cult carve a dreaded rune upon the hull of their Knight suit before setting upon a dark quest to find his temple, which supposedly lies within the Realm of Chaos itself. Few return from such a quest, but those that do are forever transformed...The Putrid Carapace of Nurgle - It is unclear where the Putrid Carapace first came from, but it is certain that this sentient Warp ooze is a creation of the Plague God Nurgle. By melding with a mechanical host, it causes a Chaos Knight's outer layers of adamantium and plasteel to transform into a bubbling semifluid capable of melting through the armour and flesh of any enemy foolish enough to strike it.Bound Varadian Psychogeist - Many Chaos Knights have quested upon the Daemon World of Fell Varad. Once home to a mighty Noble household, Fell Varad is now a hellscape in which the remnant gheists of shattered Thrones Mechanicum roam unbound across the wastes, wailing in a state of utter insanity. A questing Fallen Noble of strong enough will can bind a Varadian Psychogheist to their own Throne. The reward for most who do so is to have their soul immediately devoured, yet those who can tame the warped entity learn much from its demented tutelage about how to defeat other Knights.The Traitor's Mark - The fell deeds and bloodstained heraldry of this Chaos Knight are recounted across the galaxy, and all know that to confront it is to face a painful death. Each icon is redolent of the betrayals and treacherous deeds committed by the bearer, and in the minds of those who look upon them appear visions so gruesome in nature that the beholder is gripped by unnatural dread, badly weakening the morale of the enemy.The Quicksilver Throne of Slaanesh - The Quicksilver Throne is inhabited not by the remnant personalities of slain pilots, but by the most rapacious daemon servants of Slaanesh, the Dark Prince of Chaos. They impart a portion of their daemonic grace to the Fallen Noble, allowing the Chaos Knight being piloted to move and strike with terrifying speed.The Gauntlet of Ascension - This taloned Thunderstrike Gauntlet has been wielded by many ambitious Knights, and it has filled each of its bearers with an insatiable battle-lust and the desire to seek out worthy foes upon the battlefield. As the crushed carcasses of formidable opponents are bled out within its iron-tight grasp, a flood of daemonic energy washes over the Chaos Knight, increasing its resiliency and combat prowess.Twisted Mask - This Knightly faceplate is inlaid with a psychoamplifying matrix, made from crystals mined upon the liminal world of Terminos and designed to act as a lodestone for Warp energies. Runes of channelling are worked into the mask's reverse facing, bound to neuroempyric shunts by macabre tethers of braided theldrite and witches' finger bones. Through these, the power of the Immaterium surges into the pilot's mind and enhances their dark psychic powers. It is only usable by Fallen Nobles who have been gifted with psychic abilities.Panopoly of the Cursed Knights - Borne within an unmarked casket by an order of silent Idolators, this collection of tattered pennants, chain-strung charms and armour scraps represent the last remains of the Knight suit of Carnivus Grymm. It is said that festooning one's Knight suit with these charms instils the legendary fortitude of that doomed war engine. Yet it is whispered that doing so also invites the attentions of the same dread curse that eventually lead to Carnivus Grymm's ghastly end.Soul-raptor Swarm - This Knight is ridden by a flock of predatory avian Daemons, their wicked talons anchoring them to fuel pipes and spiked trim. The presence of such soul-raptors is a mark of the pilot's favour in the eyes of the Dark Gods. It is also a source of terror amongst the foe, whose slightest show of fear is enough to invite attack by the awful creatures. The Soul-raptors tear apart their victims' animus and, as they feed, so their link to the chosen Knight sees their victims' life force channelled to regenerate battle damage or heal its wounded pilot.Helm of Dogs - It is rumoured that an infamous former Apothecary (Fabius Bile) of the Emperor's Children Legion aided in the crafting of this nightmarish Helm Mechanicum. Employed as an implement of punishment, the helm tears into its agonised wearer's psyche like a wild animal. After solar days of suffering, they are reduced to little more than a feral beast -- obedient only to their master and dominant over lesser War Dogs, but a snarling shadow of their former self. This relic can only be used by the pilots of a War Dog-class Chaos Knight.
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Chaos Knights - Artificer Relics: Damned Crucible - A Fallen Noble pilot who is in possession of the Damned Crucible has only obtained it by forging dark pacts with no less than four Greater Daemons, exchanging power for ever increasing peril to soul and body alike.Craahdekh's Throne of Sacrifice - This thrice-cursed Throne Mechanicum feeds off the blood and soul of the bearer as a perpetual offering to the Dark Gods, in return for a mote of their favour.The Harbinger's Chains - Said to have been forged from the despoiled ramparts of the Keep Inviolate, these Warp-soaked chains radiate a malice that can make even the stoutest heart falter.
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Chaos Knights - Antiquity Relics: Shades of Ruin - Those who assail this Chaos Knight are beset by a squall of shadowy wings, flashing beaks and gouging talons. It is a determined foe indeed who can forge a path through these shades of ruin.Icon of Damnation - This eight-pointed Star of Chaos emblem is bestowed on a Chaos Knight by dark artificers in return for a bounty of stolen technology. Striking it causes it to shatter, the fragments running like quicksilver to patch rent armour and mend broken power lines.
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Chaos Knights - Legendary Relics: Helm of the Dread Knight - Rumoured to be the faceplate of the first Knight sworn to the service of Chaos, this mask infuses a war engine with dread power and malign forces of the Warp, rendering its every shot and blow anathema to mortal life.
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Chaos Knights - Favours of the Dark Gods: Certain Chaos Knights that have given good service to the Dark Gods can be gifted with a special item dedicated to one of the four major Chaos Gods or to Chaos Undivided that grant enhanced capabilities and special, Warp-based powers.
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Chaos Knights - Khornate Favours: Blood Shield - Wrought from the carapaces of slain Knights and embossed with the skulls of their pilots, the Blood Shield pulsates like a throbbing heart. When activated, the enemy's psychic barriers are silenced and force fields blink out of existence, opening a window of opportunity for unbridled carnage to erupt.Collar of Infernal Brass - Forged in the molten core of a Khornate Daemon World and inscribed with runes of nullification upon a thundersmote anvil of thrice-cursed noctilith, this collar wards away even the most potent Warpcraft.Throne Mechanicum of Skulls - This brazen Throne Mechanicum is inlaid with the carved bones of slain champions and decorated with the skulls of former Knight pilots. Through it an all-consuming need for murder grips the pilot of the Chaos Knight who rides this Throne and never lets go.
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Chaos Knights - Tzeentchian Favours: Pyrothrone - This Throne Mechanicum burns with spectral flames, out of which whisper the tormented gheists of nine-hundred and ninety-nine sacrificed Tzeentchian magisters. A pilot who sits upon this Throne finds their mind filled with the gheists' accumulated malefic lore and so are able to manipulate the Warp, summoning pillars of coruscating fire to immolate their enemies or rebuffing psychic conjurations levelled against them.Cursed Rune of Fate - Tzeentchian rune of sorcerous power shimmers across the surface of this Chaos Knight's hull, ever-moving like a reflection across rippling water. Bound to the strands of fate, the rune pulses as enemies fire upon its host Knight, twisting the web of causality so that hideous and immediate misfortunes befall-the attackers -- from weapon malfunctions and deadly ricochets to ghastly sorcerous mutations.Mirror of Fates - The interior of this Chaos Knight's cockpit is coated in a polished crystal skein so that the pilot sits enthroned within an all-encompassing scrying glass. The Mirror of Fates reveals that which will happen and that which may happen. Proliferating possibilities dance across its surface in a mind-bending kaleidoscope that allows the pilot to predict their enemy's plans and exploit them.
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Chaos Knights - Nurglish Favours: The Putrid Carapace - Resembling the stinking skin of spoiled foodstuffs long-gone rancid, this repugnant and semi-sentient organic membrane stretches itself across the iron hide of a Nurgle-blessed Knight suit. At its touch, slablike armour thickens with layers of rust and blubber. Servo-motors and actuator bundles are reinforced with rotted tendon and seeping muscle, while fat buboes swell around vital systems to shield them from harm.Blessing of a Thousand Poxes - Though they appear rusted and pocked, this Chaos Knight's weapons drip with such virulent plague-slop that they need only graze their targets in order to inundate them with withering agues, viral corrosions, pustulant poxes and gnawing parasites beyond count.Aura of Corruption - The rusted exhausts of this Chaos Knight belch clouds of toxic fumes, thick with whirling plague spores and fat-bodied Daemon flies. These stinking emissions gather about the Chaos Knight in such profusion that they form a miasmal shroud that moves with the war engine wherever it strides. Those engulfed in this toxic fog find their flesh breaking out in sores and pustules, their lungs clogging with foul mucus even as armour and weapons corrode and fall apart.
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Chaos Knights - Slaaneshi Favours: Quicksilver Throne - This semi-organic Throne Mechanicum invades its pilot's nervous system with hair-thin cilia, binding their senses to the haptic feedback circuitry of the Chaos Knight itself. The pilot is able to move their Knight suit as though it were their own living flesh, at the price of feeling the blissful agony of every blast and blade to strike its hull.Beguiling Majesty - About this Knight hangs an intoxicating aura, as though the Dark Prince himself had infested it with a sliver of his own nightmarish beauty. Those who look too long upon the war engine must be strong-willed indeed, lest their minds and souls be captured by its ineffable allure.Subjugator Machine Spirit - Agile and deadly, Subjugator Scout Titans are Slaaneshi god-machines far more powerful than the greatest Knight. Nonetheless, the sundered Machine Spirit (artificial intelligence) of just such a god-engine has been bound within this Knight suit, and now strains at the overloaded senses of pilot and steed until both are ready to burst asunder. Only by satisfying the Subjugator's constant desire for savage combat are they able to stave off this grisly fate.
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Chaos Knights - Chaos Undivided Favours: Mark of the Dread Knight - This fell rune was said to have branded the first Knight to cast off their oaths of fealty to the Imperium and follow Khorne's Eightfold Path to Damnation. A Chaos Knight that bears this cursed rune upon its hull enjoys a measure of infernal protection from the pantheon of the Dark Gods as it inflicts destruction in their names.Warp-borne Stalker - Daemonic whispers guide this Chaos Knight's pilot along secret paths through the etheric tempests and accursed Daemon Worlds of the Empyrean. In this way, it is able to burst through coruscating tears in the fabric of realspace and straight into battle.Blessing of the Dark Master - The pilot of this Chaos Knight gives worship to a daemonic demigod, the first Daemon Prince Be'lakor, who embodies the manifold might of the Octed of Chaos. They and their mechanical steed are blessed in return with a modicum of their dark master's power, which manifests about them as an obfuscating cowl of shadows.
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Chaos Knights - Warp Storm Discipline: Some Fallen Nobles, such as those that pilot Knights Abominant, possess the ability to project psychic powers as a result of the gifts of the Warp. These abilities are collectively called the Warp Storm Discipline by psykers, and several examples of what the discipline can accomplish are included below.Winds of the Warp - A localised tempest of empyric energy roars into being around the Chaos Knight and its bondsmen, striking enemy projectiles from the air in flashes of empyric lightning and sealing damaged hulls with its mutating touch.Vortex Terrors - Down from the tortured skies rushes a howling empyric gale thick with tortured souls and screeching avian gheists. They whirl about the foe in an ephemeral storm that sows terror and confusion amongst the enemy ranks.The Storm Malevolent - Drawn forth by words of dark power, a storm from the depths of the Warp surges up against the skin of reality. Its lashing tendrils tear the veil until corrupting empyric energies spill through to taint all they touch. Trapped amidst this maelstrom of cursed unreality, the enemy are left horribly exposed to attack, and may even be driven back into the pulsating Warp rent to suffer a horrible fate.Cyclonic Lamentation - Spectral winds sing through the rents and channels in the Chaos Knight's armour, their fury building as they meld with the rising shriek of its infernal plasma reactor. In an instant, the nightmare cacophony melds into a single tormented note that rolls outward like a shock wave, shredding the souls of all who hear it and slaying many.Coruscating Hate - So potent is the caster's loathing of the foe that it manifests as roiling thunderheads amidst the darkened skies above. One after another, shrieking bolts of heliotropic lightning stab down from on high to explode amidst the enemy. Those struck are twisted by the raw power of the Warp, their bodies erupting into grotesque mutations or burning with unholy soulfires until they are naught but ashes.Spitesquall - Viscous black rain is driven into the enemy upon howling and hateful winds. Bad enough that this bitter precipitation is freezing cold and blinding as it hisses viciously from armour and flesh, but as it drenches its victims' bodies so too does it numb them and, eventually, drowns their souls, letting their lives ebb away with the unnatural rain.
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Chaos Knights - Forces of the Chaos Knights: Chaos Knight ForcesArmiger Pattern Knights (War Dog-class)War Dog (War Dog Executioner • War Dog Stalker • War Dog Karnivore • War Dog Brigand • War Dog Huntsman)Slaaneshi Daemon KnightsHell-Strider • Hell-Scourge • Hell-KnightCerastus Pattern KnightsCerastus Knight-Acheron • Cerastus Knight-Castigator • Cerastus Knight-LancerQuestoris Pattern Knights (Abhorrent-class)Knight Despoiler • Knight Desecrator • Knight Rampager • Knight AbominantAcastus Pattern KnightsAcastus Knight PorphyrionDominus Pattern Knights (Tyrant-class)Knight Tyrant
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Chaos Lord - Chaos Lord: A Chaos Lord is one of the most powerful of the Champions of Chaos who often serves as the commander of a Chaos Space Marine warband and the other forces of Chaos. A Chaos Lord is usually, though not always, a Heretic Astartes himself.They are not necessarily those who rose through the ranks properly in a hierarchical fashion, but are often those most blessed by the Chaos Gods or simply the most powerful or charismatic individuals among the forces of Chaos.The greatest of the Champions of Chaos become Chaos Lords and are often granted hideous mutations and physical alterations by the Ruinous Powers to further their cause. Chaos Lords are so powerful as to be able to bind the other forces of Chaos to their will, although this often brings a dangerous position as advancement among the forces of Chaos is commonly achieved through the death or murder of another Chaos Lord or Champion.Some Chaos Lords lead through brute strength, others through cunning and some are maniacs bent solely on self-aggrandisement. Others are true-believing worshipers of Chaos and possess a zealous dedication to the cause of the Dark Gods.A Chaos Lord is ultimately always a tyrannical warrior-king who lives to bathe in the blood of worlds. He strives to bring whole star systems to their knees in the name of his patron deities. Typified by merciless ambition and fierce pride, many of these champions of disorder were once noble Chapter Masters and captains of the Adeptus Astartes, but long Terran years of unremitting war have twisted their souls beyond recovery.It takes a being of exceptional willpower and personal magnetism to unite the warbands of Chaos Space Marines lurking in the Warp, and even then, a would-be warlord cannot be everywhere at once. Only those marked for greatness by the gods themselves can claim support from Heretic Astartes, mortals and Daemons alike.All Chaos Lords are imposing in stature. In the case of Chaos Space Marines, their genetically-enhanced transhuman physiques have been made even more impressive by the protean caress of the Warp. Their wargear is often as outlandish as their physical appearance; a Chaos Lord may hack his foes apart with a massive chainaxe, blast them with an ancient combi-weapon, or slice open their vehicles with a screaming Daemon Sword.Regardless of affiliation, these conquerors of worlds invariably prefer to lead from the front. There, the visceral thrill of war is strong enough to eclipse any glimmering sense of betrayal they may feel as they rend their Loyalist brothers limb from limb.Possessed of a wrath so intense it often clouds their vision, the Chaos Lords of Khorne lead by example. Each Chaos Lord is a looming brute in gore-stained armour. Many such lords retain their intellect and conqueror's instincts, but their blood-greed is so strong that, upon the battlefield, they could easily be mistaken for mindless savages. It matters little, for so frenzied are the warriors that follow them that they are lost to reason; for lord and follower alike, only the sight of blood holds sway.Tzeentch grants his lordly devotees access to an almost limitless supply of sorcerous power. Such beings have a supernatural ability to outguess their foes. They often manifest arcane mutations such as haloes of dark flame, third eyes or crystalline bodies, whilst mystical auras protect them from harm, transmuting attacks into harmless energy. Their plans are so labyrinthine that only the insane may even begin to understand them.The lords of Nurgle are lumbering, filth-encrusted hulks that devote their lives to spreading disease across the stars. Their guts are bloated sacs of putrid gas and rancid fat, and their sagging skin has the waxy pallor of a corpse, but their resistance to injury is legendary. These devout sons of Grandfather Nurgle revel in their foulness, leading Heretic and Daemon alike to war.Chaos Lords of Slaanesh are gifted with strange sensory organs and mood amplifiers that allow them to better savour the shocking stimuli of open warfare. The life of such a lord is a whirlwind of excess that inspires his followers anew with every battle. His mind reacts so swiftly that he can fight with blurring speed and dexterity in the pursuit of ever-greater sensation -- and the pleasure it brings.
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Chaos Lord - Mark of the Chaos Champion: Chaos Champions often bear upon their flesh the Mark of one of the four Chaos Gods or of Chaos Undivided. Champions of Khorne are berserk savages and value physical strength and direct melee combat over cunning and strategy. Tzeentch's Champions are very knowledgeable on a wide array of matters and many are Chaos Sorcerers.The Champions of Nurgle are the most distorted and physically corrupted of Chaos' followers, their bodies dulled from the constant pain of the diseases they bear, enabling them to endure extreme physical injury with little trauma. Slaaneshi Champions are those who seek out the most intense sensory experiences possible due to the extraordinary pleasure this provides them. They are physically the fastest warriors of Chaos due to their hyper-sensitive minds and often surgically-altered or mutated reaction times.
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Chaos Lord - Sorcerer Lords: At present, a Sorcerer Lord is a Chaos Lord who possesses psychic powers as a sorcerer and is more often than not a devotee of Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways and Chaos God of change and sorcery.In the 3rd Edition of Warhammer 40,000, there was a different structure for Chaos Space Marine commanders. They could be psykers or mundanes, and the rank of "Chaos Lieutenant" existed as the second-in-command of a Chaos Space Marine force.Since the release of Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition, however, Chaos Sorcerers have been moved to a role more resembling that of the Loyalist Space Marines' Librarians within a Heretic Astartes warband rather than possessing variable psychic abilities.
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Chaos Lord - Unit Composition: 1 Chaos Lord
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Chaos Lord - Wargear: Power Armour (Any Firstborn mark)ChainswordBolt PistolFrag GrenadesKrak GrenadesPlasma Pistol (Optional replacement for Bolt Pistol or Chainsword)Combi-weapon (Any type; optional replacement for Bolt Pistol or Chainsword)Power Weapon (Any type; optional replacement for Bolt Pistol or Chainsword)Jump Pack (Optional if leading jump assault)If wearing Terminator Armour, the Chaos Lord makes use of the following wargear:Tactical Dreadnought Armour (any pattern)Power SwordCombi-bolterCombi-weapon (Any type, optional replacement for Combi-bolter)Power Weapon (Any type, optional replacement for Combi-bolter or Power Sword)Lightning Claw (Optional replacement for Combi-bolter or Power Sword)Chainfist (Optional replacement for Combi-bolter or Power Sword)
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Chaos Lord - A: NameOriginSummaryAbaddon the DespoilerBlack LegionAbaddon, also known as "the Despoiler", once named Ezekyle Abaddon, is the Warmaster of Chaos, a Chaos Lord and the greatest Champion of Chaos Undivided in the galaxy. He is the commander of the Black Legion of Chaos Space Marines and is rumoured to be the clone-progeny of the Warmaster Horus, the greatest Traitor in Imperial history, and at one time his most favoured son amongst the Space Marines of the Sons of Horus Legion. He is now infamous for leading Black Crusades, the terrible military campaigns during which the normally fractious forces of Chaos unite under his leadership and launch a massive attack against the Imperium from within the Eye of Terror.AdharonSons of GuillimanAdharon was a former Space Marine Captain of the Sons of Guilliman Chapter. He was corrupted by Chaos and gathered a warband of like-minded corrupted Astartes around himself from his former company to raid and pillage the commerce of the Imperium of Man in the name of the Dark Gods. The Siege of Vraks represented the first time that his warband, named Adharon's Reavers, had operated in concert with other Chaos Space Marine forces.Agrand the AnnihilatorUnknownA Chaos Lord and notable Chaos Space Marine Biker, Agrand led hordes of Khorne Daemonkin against the Tau Empire colony of Ral'eth, slaughtering all in their path, as they smashed the Tau Hunter Cadres lines. Soon enough, with their forces reeling, the main Daemonkin forces were able to push forward, finally overrunning the cornered Tau and adding their skulls as prizes for the Skull Throne of Khorne.Ahzek AhrimanThousand SonsAhzek Ahriman is a Chaos Space Marine and the most powerful Chaos Sorcerer of the Thousand Sons Traitor Legion after their Daemon Primarch Magnus the Red himself. Ahriman seeks to gain entry into the Black Library so that he might better comprehend the nature of his patron Chaos God Tzeentch and of the force of Chaos itself and gain the unrivalled power such knowledge will bring. His action in crafting the Rubric of Ahriman, perhaps one of the greatest works of sorcery in history, would ultimately result in his banishment from the Legion he had hoped to safeguard. He remains a wanderer across the galaxy, forever seeking out any knowledge that will allow him to finally grasp the greatest of all enigmas in the galaxy -- the true nature of Tzeentch himself. At various times during his wanderings, Ahriman has served as a Chaos Lord for both the Brotherhood of Dust and the Prodigal Sons warbands.Emmesh-AiyeEmperor's ChildrenA powerful Chaos Lord and Noise Marine of the Emperor's Children Traitor Legion, Emmesh-Aiye might not have been an original member of the IIIrd Legion, as he could no longer recall his origin. Nevertheless, he was a notorious raider and degenerate. Sometime in the 41st Millennium, Emmesh-Aiye was among those who accepted the invitation of Chengrel of the Iron Warriors to take part in an auction for possession of captured Eldar Spirit Stones, the winner decided by their tales of destruction and conquest. A free-for-all battle eventually ensued as the vying Chaos Lords fought one another for possession of the stones. After slaying Hodir, a Chaos Lord of the Night Lords for possession of the stones, Emmesh-Aiye battled Chaos Lord Khrove of the Thousand Sons. However the Chaos Sorcerer used his innate psychic abilities to turn the ground Emmesh-Aiye and his slave-warriors stood on into a bottomless pit of quicksand-like metal. Trapped, Emmesh-Aiye sunk into the hole and died.AndraazIron WarriorsWarsmith Andraaz was an Iron Warriors Warsmith of the 3rd Grand Company. Following the Traitor Legions flight to the Eye of Terror at the end of the Horus Heresy, he eventually rose in favour to command the Fortress World of Castellax, a former Imperial Mining World, whose population was enslaved in order to provide manual labour to produce materials for the Daemon World of Medrengard. Sometime during the 41st Millennium, Medrengard was invaded by Ork Warboss Biglug and his WAAAGH!. Andraaz suffered an inglorious and undignified death at the hands of the Ork Warboss.Vandred AnrathiNight LordsVandred Anrathi, known later as "The Exalted," was a Captain of the 10th Company (Chaos Lord) of the Night Lords warband of The Exalted. Vandred is a Chaos Champion of Tzeentch. Allying himself with Abaddon the Despoiler, he allowed himself to be possessed by a Daemon. Before accepting the daemon which would come to dominate him, Vandred was an honored warrior, but his true forte was void combat. After his change into the Exalted, he became even more focused on void combat. When the Exalted made a deal with Red Corsairs Renegade warband to assist them in a military campaign against Vilamus, the Exalted plotted to steal an ex-Night Lords vessel back from the Red Corsairs. During the subsequent battle the Exalted's body was destroyed at its foul soul was banished back into the Warp.Araghast the PillagerBlack LegionAraghast the Pillager was a powerful Chaos Lord who commanded the Chaos Space Marine warband of the Black Legion that assaulted the Sub-sector Aurelia during the Second Aurelian Crusade. Araghast was betrayed by his second-in-command, the former Dark Apostle Eliphas the Inheritor, and subsequently killed by a Blood Ravens Chapter strike force led by Force Commander Aramus.Arkos the FaithlessAlpha LegionArkos the Faithless, also known as the Scion of Alpharius, is the Chaos Lord of the Alpha Legion warband known as The Faithless. Since the Horus Heresy, this vile Chaos Lord has continued the Long War against the "Corpse Emperor" and his unwitting servants. Arkos continued to stir up dissension and rebellion within the realm of Mankind until he met his eventual fate during the Siege of Vraks late in the 41st Millennium. Confronted by a strike team composed of Loyalist Astartes drawn from the Angels of Absolution and the Dark Angels Chapters, it is believed that Arkos was eventually captured and brought back to the Dark Angels' mobile fortress-monastery, The Rock, as a prisoner. His actual fate remains unknown.Heritor AsphodelSabbat WorldsHeritor Asphodel was a Magister of the forces of Chaos commanded by Archon Nadzybar during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Asphodel was slain on the world of Verghast in the later stages of the Crusade by Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the troops of his Tanith First and Only Imperial Guard regiment.
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Chaos Lord - B: NameOriginSummaryBaldarunIron WarriorsBaldarun is an Iron Warriors Warsmith, commanding a Grand Battery. Exiled from his Legion since a previous defeat against rival Warsmiths on Medrengard, Baldarun has been seeking the means to rebuild his standing. Seeing an opportunity to do so, he took part in The Scouring of Makenna VII. He became leader of the Renegade warband the Abrial's Claw after making a pact with a well-known renegade Abrial Shard. In exchange for his men, Baldarun will share with him the secret of his beloved techno-virus.BaleAlpha LegionBale was the Chaos Lord who brought the Ruinous Powers of Chaos, in the form of his Alpha Legion warband, to the world of Tartarus. He was pursuing the Chaotic artefact known as the Maledictum for himself, and to better serve the goals of the Chaos Gods. Bale was an unusual Alpha Legion commander in that he much preferred a brutal and frontally aggressive combat doctrine rather than the subtle manipulation that was more in line with the modus operandi of the Alpha Legion. Bale was slain by Blood Ravens Captain Gabriel Angelos.Heinrich BaleImperial NavyHeinrich Bale is a Chaos Warmaster, known to have been a former disciple of the Young School (formally known as the Gareox Prerogative -- a group of young Imperial Navy officers in the 36th Millennium who sought to radically redefine Imperial Navy doctrine), before his fall to Chaos. It is widely believed that Bale sought to combine the hard-hitting lances of the Desolator-class Battleship with the versatility provided by attack craft, ultimately resulting in the Desecrator-class Battleship. It is unknown how Bale managed these extensive modifications, but his flagship, The Treacherous, proved to be a menacing foe during the Gothic War.Barkor the BloodyUnknownIn the 33rd Millennium, the Chaos Lord known as Barkor the Bloody took the Scriptures of Slaughter from the Infernal Maze and forged the first warband of Khorne Daemonkin known as the Skullsworn. For over a century, he led his followers on a violent rampage across the stars, depopulating more than a dozen worlds before he found his ascension as a Daemon Prince on the plains of Ossedor II.BerossusIron WarriorsBerrosus was an Iron Warriors Warsmith of the 2nd Grand Battalion. During the Battle of Phall he had the misfortune of bringing ill-favoured news to Perturabo, and was critically injured by the enraged Primarch. On the orders of his Primarch, Berossus was eventually encased within the shell of a Chaos Dreadnought to be tormented across the centuries. By the 41st Millennium, Berossus and fellow Warsmith Toramino, were angered over Warsmith Honsou's refusal to share captured Imperial Fists gene-seed that was stolen from Hydra Cordatus during the 13th Black Crusade, and so declared war against him. During the ensuing battle, Berrosus was slain by Honsou's life-ward, Onyx, who managed to breech Berrosus' Dreadnought carapace. Honsou then reached inside the Dreadnought shell and ripped out its Mind Impulse Unit and pulped Berrosus' head before all to see.Fabius BileEmperor's ChildrenFabius Bile was once the Chief Apothecary of the Emperor's Children Traitor Legion, who has repeatedly attempted to use his knowledge of cloning and genetic engineering to create superhuman beings under his control in a quest to match and then exceed the Emperor of Mankind's original scientific achievement in creating the superhuman Legiones Astartes. Travelling the galaxy more widely than any other Chaos Lord of the Traitor Legions, Bile has earned a number of epithets and aliases from those who have suffered the affects of his vile experiments. To Bile himself, there is only one title that does his magnificence justice -- the "Primogenitor". He believes that in him is the Emperor's boundless artistry reborn. He claims he has unlocked the secrets of the Emperor's earliest replicae experiments during the creation of the Primarchs and the first Space Marines. Bile's twisted alchemical knowledge and skills at genetic manipulation can be attested to by every planet he has had contact with, for he has left a trail of foul deviants and twisted abominations wherever his ships have landed. His name has become a curse to the High Lords of Terra and those of the Apothecarion who have learned of his legend.Roghax BloodhandWorld EatersRoghax Bloodhand is a World Eaters Chaos Lord who has sworn to collect a skull from every warrior species in the galaxy and offer them to his patron lord, Khorne. Bloodhand's master work has taken a new turn with the coming of the Tyranids and in 992.M41, eager to add to his burgeoning collection of skulls, Bloodhand led his maniacal host into a headlong attack against a tendril of Hive Fleet Kraken.BorrolethDark AngelsBorroleth was a former Legionary of the Dark Angels Legion who had fallen sway to the Arch-Heretic Sars Luther. When Caliban broke apart during the confrontation between Primarch Lion El'Jonson and Luther, Barroleth was swept away into the warp and would have been lost. Nurgle answered the lost legionary's prayers, and in that moment, Borroleth swore his eternal servitude. For a time, the Fallen Angel led the Chaos warband known as the Children of the Merciful Lord, and was responsible for the attacks on the Imperial world of Cordassa in the 41st Millennium. He was eventually slain by Artemius Grohm, an Interrogator-Chaplain of the Dark Angels Chapter.Helman BrischWord BearersHelman Brisch was a former Lieutenant Commander in the Word Bearers Traitor Legion who refused to retreat in the wake of their defeat at the Battle of Terra. His troops that remained loyal to him became the warband known as The Sanctified. They continued their former Legion's dark crusade to convert the masses of the Imperium of Man to the service of the true Gods of Chaos. Brisch was eventually slain in the 32nd Millennium, but his zealous followers continued to carry on his cause.BruleUnknownBrule was a Chaos Lord who, in 980.M41, led his renegade army in an invasion of the Imperial world of Treconodal, but was subsequently destroyed by the Cadian 8th and Terrax Guard Imperial Guard regiments.
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Chaos Lord - C: NameOriginSummaryCairneWorld EatersBrother-Slayer Cairne served as the second of the Chaos Lord Bane during the invasion of the Imperial world of Tarturus in pursuit of the Chaos artefact known as the Maledictum.Firaeveus CarronAlpha LegionFiraeveus Carron was a Chaos Lord who led a warband of Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines. Although the warband he led was dedicated to Chaos Undivided, Carron himself was a Chaos Champion of Khorne. Firaeveus Carron led the forces of Chaos' invasion of the Imperial Kaurava System during the 41st Millennium after a Warp Rift opened in the system through the will of the Chaos Gods. Carron and his warband were ultimately defeated by the Imperial forces defending Kaurava, although it is unknown in the Imperial records which of the three Imperial factions present in the system (the 252nd Conservator Regiment of the Imperial Guard, the Blood Ravens Space Marines and the Adepta Sororitas of the Order of the Sacred Rose) were the ones who defeated him.ChengrelIron WarriorsA veteran of the Long War, Chengrel is a Chaos Lord and Dreadnought of the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion, ruling over the worlds of the Mitre Gulf from his Fortress World of Burjan's World. During the Horus Heresy, he was known to have taken part in the Siege of the Imperial Palace during the final epic campaign of the Battle of Terra. Millennia of battling the Imperium had taken the toll on his body, which was heavily augmented by bionics and mechanical replacements. By the 41st Millennium, his remains were housed in a custom-built massive four-legged Dreadnought. Chengrel is noted to having burned the Imperial Hive World of Heggoru, a world under the protection of the Imperial Fists, a Chapter Chengrel despises like most Iron Warriors.ConstantinusSons of GuillimanConstantinus, also known as Constantinus the Liberator, was a former squad Sergeant of the Sons of Guilliman Chapter's 4th Company who turned to Chaos. After helping free the beleaguered world of Nova Terra from a Tyranid attack, his unit was left behind to monitor for signs of Genestealer infestation. For three years Constantinus led his squad on endless patrols through the caves of Nova Terra, cleansing planet of remaining pockets of Tyranid infestation. When rumor arose of a Genestealer infestation among the city of Cirtus' ruling aristocracy, Constantinus hunted down the infected nobles and their families brutally. However the people of Nova Terra were enraged by the summary execution of their leaders and rose up in revolt. Disgusted by this "ungrateful" behavior and his will exhausted, Constantinus burnt down entire sectors of Cirtus, turning on those in his own squad who tried to stop him. He appeared before the crowd and announced himself the new ruler of Cirtus declaring the Emperor and his minions had turned him into such a monster. He led Nova Terra in a rebellion and subsequent costly and drawn out war against the Imperium of Man, known as the Constantinus Iconoclasm.CorpulaxConsecratorsCorpulax is a Plague Marine and Chaos Lord. He was originally a member of the Consecrators Chapter, but was infected with the Zombie Plague when battling against the forces of Typhus. Left for dead on a devastated planet, Corpulax awoke as a reanimated corpse. However, unlike so many of the plague's victims, Corpulax retained his intelligence and cognitive powers. Dedicating himself fully to serving Nurgle, over the next three hundred years, he has orchestrated an inexorable rise to power, finally becoming one of Abaddon's most trusted warlords.CrullWorld EatersCrull was the borderline psychotic Chaos Lord of the World Eaters Traitor Legion who lead the Blood Legion of Khorne warband to the Ice World of Lorn V in order to obtain some unknown artefact for the glory of the Blood God. He struck an uneasy alliance with the Ork Warboss Gorgutz 'Ead 'Unter, after discovering an ancient Imperator-class Titan on the planet, which he attempted to claim for himself. After attempting to double-cross Gorgutz, Crull was defeated and killed by the Warboss, who mounted the Chaos Lord's head upon his back banner.Ezrath CullThe SanctifiedArch-Sorcerer and favoured Champion of Chaos, Ezrath Cull led the Sanctified in their foul efforts to desecrate the resting places of the honoured Imperial dead and work hideous rituals in the ruins of the Cemetery Worlds of the Grand Al'gul System in 666.M41. But their efforts were thwarted by the Fire Angels Space Marine Chapter in a series of long running, savage battles. Eventually, their forces spent, the Sanctified were driven from the sacred sites and routed from the system; the planned apotheosis of the Sanctified's Arch-Sorcerer Ezrath Cull to daemonhood utterly thwarted. Following the corrupted Chaos Space Marines force's defeat, Cull, a once-favoured Champion of Chaos, was assassinated by his own apprentices in a brutal power struggle to control the shattered remains of his decimated warband as they fled Grand Al'gul.
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Chaos Lord - D: NameOriginSummaryTarraq DarkbloodNight LordsA Chaos Lord and one of the most vicious killers in a Legion replete with sadistic butchers, Tarraq Darkblood commanded the Styx-class Heavy Cruiser Darkblood, in raiding Imperial shipping during the 13th Black Crusade as he fought under the banner of Abaddon the Despoiler. The Darkblood was eventually confronted by the Imperial Navy and was crippled by multiple Cobra-class Destroyers and the Lunar-class Cruiser Goliath. Tarraq Darkblood's fate is unknown.DavrothWord BearersA powerful and highly respected Chaos Lord within the Word Bearers Traitor Legion, Davroth would invade the Imperial Mining World of Makenna VII to enslave the local population and send resource tributes back to Warmaster Abaddon the Despoiler. In return, Davroth hoped that Abaddon would give him a pair of deadly Chaos Titans. With these powerful god-engines under his control Davroth would be able to launch an offensive against his primary rival, Khulia of the Bleed, and allowing him to take Khulia's place as one of Abaddon's most powerful lieutenants.DemetriusViolatorsCommander Demetrius was the Chaos Champion of Slaanesh who served as the commander of those Violators Chaos Space Marines stationed on the Daemon World of Torvendis, under the patronage of the Slaaneshi Daemon Prince Lady Charybdia. Demetrius was entombed within the sarcophagus of a Chaos Dreadnought. He was killed in action by the Khornate Daemon Prince Sh'll Sh'Karr when the forces of the Blood God attacked Charybdia Keep.DrachmusWord BearersA powerful Chaos Lord of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion, Drachmus wasn't an original member of the Legiones Astartes or a veteran of the Horus Heresy. Instead, he had been recruited into the Traitor Legion from a world chosen as a recruiting ground by the Daemon Primarch Lorgar 1,200 years after the Heresy. Sometime in the 41st Millennium, Drachmus was among those who accepted the invitation of Chengrel of the Iron Warriors to take part in an auction for possession of captured Aeldari Spirit Stones, the winner decided by their tales of destruction and conquest. A free-for-all battle eventually ensued as the vying Chaos Lords fought one another for possession of the stones. Drachmus and his retinue were killed during the subsequent melee.Manneus DrathIron WarriorsA powerful Chaos Lord who currently rules the former Imperial world of Brigannion Four close to the stable warp route known as the Cadian Gate. This worlds has been claimed not only by the Night Lords but also the Black Legion, the Death Guard, the Sons of Hate and the Brotherhood of Blood. It is now an unimaginably vast fortress of corrupt magic and machine, made all the more impregnable by its current ruler.Makir DreadstoneUnknownA Chaos renegade and heretic, he founded his own Chaos Coven. The Dark Angels Chapter sent a Lion's Blade Strike Force led by Grand Master Zephon and Interrogator-Chaplain Sarphaecus to put down Makir's uprising. Unbeknownst to even Company Master Zephon, members of Makir's Chaos coven are rumoured to be Fallen Dark Angels. So Sarphaecus is present to ensure any sign of the Fallen is pursued with maximum prejudice.DoluthecThe PurgeDoluthec was a Chaos Lord of the Purge Chaos Space Marine Warband. In 931.M38, he assaulted the world of Bereguel Tertia with his Space Hulk, Hell's Last Duke. Though many of the world's most valuable dignitaries had saved themselves by taking shelter underground, believing they had escaped the worst, the dignitaries soon learn otherwise when the renegade Space Marines of the Purge emerged from the heart of the hulk and begin to hunt them down. The Space Marines of the Fire Lords Chapter diverted their forces that was on crusade to the planet and confronted the Chaos renegades with their Siegebreaker Cohorts, causing the grisly death of Doluthec, and ensuring the warband was left leaderless and eventually defeated.
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Chaos Lord - E: NameOriginSummaryEkodasWord BearersEkodas was the Grand Apostle of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion, commander of the 7th Host and a member of the elite cadre of the Legion's ruling Dark Council of Dark Apostles. Ekodas commanded the 7th Host on their unholy Dark Crusades throughout the galaxy from the massive Infernus-class Battleship Crucius Maledictus. In the latter 41st Millennium, Ekodas led the Word Bearers' assault against the strategic Boros Gate System but was killed by the Grey Knights Space Marine Chapter.EleaxusThe Flawless HostEleaxus, also known as Eleaxus the Flawless, is a devout Chaos Champion of the Pleasure God and the leader of The Flawless Host. Eleaxus cares for nothing more than his own glorification and the furtherance of his desire to sit at the right hand of Slaanesh, damning himself further by partaking in blasphemous feasts after his victories. With the promise of all the luxuries of the Imperial world of Makenna VII, Eleaxus' fealty was bought by Warmaster Davroth of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion, to help him conquer the doomed world. He led three elite squads of Emperor's Children Chaos Terminators known as The Scream of Hatred, as well as three squads of Emperor's Children Traitor Marines mounted on Rhino armoured transport carriers, who are known as the Choir of the Damned.Eliphas the InheritorWord Bearers (Formerly) / Black Legion (Current)Eliphas the Inheritor was a former Dark Apostle (Chaplain) of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion who led the forces of Chaos on Kronus during the Dark Crusade, fighting for control of that world. He was defeated by a Blood Ravens Chapter strike force led by Captain Davian Thule. Despite his defeat on Kronus, and subsequent punishment by the Ruinous Powers, he later managed to return to the Materium as a Chaos Champion of the Black Legion to plague the Blood Ravens Space Marine Chapter on the world of Meridian in Sub-sector Aurelia.ErebusWord BearersErebus held the prestigious position of First Chaplain of the Word Bearers Space Marine Legion during the rise of Horus to the rank of Warmaster and the end of the Great Crusade in the early 31st Millennium. He was a fearsome and intimidating Astartes warrior and wore tattoos depicting passages from the Book of Lorgar across his shaven scalp to terrify his enemies. Erebus was the first of the Space Marines to knowingly turn to Chaos and he was personally responsible for corrupting his own Legion's Primarch Lorgar, Horus and the Death Guard First Captain Calas Typhon to the worship and service of Chaos. Erebus is presently one of the ruling Dark Apostles of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion, and fights a subtle, but noticeable war against the Black Cardinal Kor Phaeron for control of the XVIIth Legion's direction in the Primarch's continued absence.
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Chaos Lord - F: NameOriginSummaryFestardiusDeath GuardFestardius is a Death Guard Chaos Lord and Chaos Champion of Nurgle. Ten millennia ago, he made a pact with the Word Bearers Commander Davroth during the Horus Heresy, and the two have been close allies ever since. Festardius would eventually go on to take part in The Scouring of Makenna VII during the 41st Millennium, and hoped to rule over the world once Davroth had moved on.FurionUnknownFurion was a Chaos Lord of Khorne who led a Black Crusade sometime during the latter 41st Millennium. He was defeated in single combat by Grand Master Belial, Master of the Deathwing, of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter.
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Chaos Lord - G: NameOriginSummaryGarandWord BearersA Chaos Warmaster, Garand was a mighty warrior and formidable psyker of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. He served under Captain Jerulek during the Great Crusade at the battle of Fortrea Quintus, revelling in the slaughter of the planet's population. He rose through the ranks of the Word Bearers Legion and eventually became the Witch-Prince of Helicia. He went on to earn the esteemed rank of Warmaster with command of over a thousand Hosts.Urlock GaurSabbat WorldsUrlock Gaur was the leader or "gaur" of the Khornate Chaos Cult called the Blood Pact and the "archon" or overlord of all the forces of Chaos within the Sabbat Worlds Sector, following the death of his predecessor Archon Nadzybar in 765.M41, during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, at the hands of the Imperial Warmaster Slaydo.GhalabraxUnknownGhalabrax is a Chaos Lord of Khorne and commands one of the many warbands of Khorne Daemonkin known as the Skullsworn scattered across the galaxy. Lord Ghalabrax and is warband are currently marauding their way through the Epstilos Cluster.Roek GhulclawAlpha LegionRoek Ghulclaw is an Alpha Legion Chaos Lord and leader of the Cult The Guns of Freedom. He took part in The Scouring of Makenna VII, having his agents slowly infiltrate the planet's Planetary Defence Force officer corps. Though an ally of Davroth, in reality, he answers only to the high command of his legion and might be spying on the Word Bearers overlord at his commanders' behest.Kraagon GorefistWorld EatersA Chaos Champion and Khornate Berserker, Kraagon Gorefist is the leader of the World Eaters warband known as Gladiator Group 138. He earned the "slaughter crown" from Khorne for his brutality against the forces of the Imperial Guard during the Battle of Eagle Gate on the world of Endolim.
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Chaos Lord - H: NameOriginSummaryHalaskerNight LordsA notable Chaos Lord of a warband of the Night Lords Traitor Legion.Headsman of CellebosWorld Eaters"The Headsman" is one of the most brutal of all of the World Eaters Chaos Space Marines known to be active in the Jericho Reach. This individual, whose true name is unknown, has earned the dire moniker "The Headsman" by the countless bloody deeds he has perpetrated across a hundred battlefields and more. First witnessed on the world of Khazant, The Headsman has been encountered leading a warband of his fellow Khornate Berserkers. Of all the bloodthirsty murderers fuelled by the savage essence of Khorne, The Headsman is feared as the most savage and unrelenting. He wields a mighty two-handed Chainaxe with which he beheads his foes, often a dozen with a single sweep. His features are obscured by an executioner's hood, with little more than his baleful eyes visible.HemekNight LordsHemek is a high-ranking and powerful Night Lords warband lord, leading his own warband known as the Nightwing. In a meeting of the first lords of the disparate Night Lords' warbands since their end as a cohesive Legion with the death of their Primarch Konrad Curze, Hemek expressed a strong desire to join with Abaddon the Despoiler and his 13th Black Crusade in 999.M41.Gallus HerodicusThe ScourgedGallus Herodicus was once the Chapter Master of the Seekers of Truth Chapter of Space Marines who were closely allied with the Inquisition and often did the Ordos' bidding. Gallus Herodicus was an honourable man and rankled whenever he ordered by Inquisitors to execute men and women who he knew to be innocents. The injustice was slowly draining the Seekers' morale, and in the night, Herodicus prayed to the God-Emperor for a way to know when a man was lying. Unfortunately, the Chaos God Tzeentch was listening and granted his prayer. From that moment, Herodicus and his Astartes could hear every lie spoken by the mouths of Mankind. The Chapter went rogue and became a warband of Chaos Space Marines dedicated to the Lord of Change within only days of receiving their new "gift", and Herodicus is now the powerful Chaos Lord who leads the Scourged in an attempt to purge the galaxy of the False Emperor and his irredeemably corrupt Imperium. Unfortunately, Herodicus, like all of his warriors, is now becoming quite insane because he is unable to quiet the incessant chatter of falsehoods which constantly plague his mind.HezlockUnknownHezlock, also called Hezlock Thrice-Blind, was a Chaos Lord and powerful Chaos Sorcerer who maintained an army of crystal wisps. After coming into combat with the Black Legion, Abaddon the Despoiler destroyed Hezlock's fortress and gave him an ultimatum: servitude or his severed head upon a living crystal. Wisely, Hezlock bowed to Abaddon.High BloodcallerUnknownThe High Bloodcaller was the leader of a large number of Blood Cults, that infested the floating temples of the Shrine World Rhorsch. The Cults soon drew the attention of the Mortifactors and Raven Guard Chapters, who made planetfall and began purging the Blood Cults, but caused a Daemon incursion in the process. As the Daemons attacked the Space Marines, the Mortifactors acted as a rearguard, to allow the Raven Guard to storm the Grand Temple where the High Bloodcaller was located. Led by Shadow Captain Rykas, the Raven Guard slayed the Bloodcaller and brought an end to the Heresy infecting the Shrine World.HodirNight LordsHodir was a formidable Chaos Lord of the Night Lords. Unlike many of his Chaos Space Marine colleagues, Hodir was not an original member of the Legiones Astartes nor did he take part in the Horus Heresy. Rather, he was born a normal child in the 37th Millennium and a survivor of the Te'Oran Scouring. Hodir was among the sole 100 children to survive the Night Lords virus bombing of the planet and during the panic massacred other citizens for space in the planets last remaining bomb shelter. Impressed by his viciousness, he was later genetically modified and inducted into the Night Lords. He went on to become a successful raider and pirate. Hodir was among those who accepted the invitation by Warsmith Chengrel of the Iron Warriors to win captured Aeldari Spirit Stones by impressing the elderly warlord with a tale of destruction. However, when Chengrel later flew into a rage when he discovered none of his guests were original Chaos Space Marines, and a free-for-all for possession stones began, Hodir and his bodyguards were killed by Emmesh-Aiye of the Emperor's Children.HonsouIron WarriorsHonsou is a Chaos Space Marine and a Warsmith of the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion. Honsou managed to attain the position of Warsmith (Captain) of his own Iron Warriors Grand Company despite heavy prejudice against him from other Iron Warriors Astartes for being a "half-breed" whose gene-seed came in part from the Iron Warriors greatest rivals, the Loyalist Imperial Fists Space Marine Chapter. Despite his fellow Iron Warriors' prejudice, Honsou's abilities and tenaciousness helped him to succeed in becoming one of the Iron Warriors' greatest champions and a great bane to the servants of the Corpse Emperor.
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Chaos Lord - I: NameOriginSummaryEnok InnokentiSabbat WorldsEnok Innokenti was a Magister in the Archenemy forces, serving under both Archons Nadzybar and Urlock Gaur during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Innokenti was ultimately defeated on the world of Herodor in 773.M41 by the Imperial forces of the Crusade following the unexpected reincarnation of Saint Sabbat.Ferrous IronclawIron WarriorsFerrous Ironclaw is a Warsmith of the Iron Warriors. A dedicated believer in the Long War and loyal to his Primarch Perturabo, in the 41st Millennium, Ironclaw and his Grand Company besieged the Imperial world of Bellum Colonia. However, just as he overran the world, a large force comprised of the Iron Warriors' hated rivals, the Imperial Fists, made planetfall to fight off the invading forces of Chaos. Rather then worry at these new and formidable reinforcements, however, Ironclaw rejoiced at the prospect of meeting the hated enemy of his legion in battle.
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Chaos Lord - J: NameOriginSummaryJarulekWord BearersJarulek, also known as Jarulek the Glorified or Jarulek the Blessed, was one of the more formidable Dark Apostles of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. He was considered one of the favoured servants of the immortal Daemon Primarch Lorgar, a true bearer of the Word of the Ruinous Powers. Through his extreme devotion to Chaos Undivided, furious passion and fiery oratory he brought countless millions into the truth of the Eight-Fold Path. Millions more who had chosen to remain ignorant and resistant to the true faith had been slain upon his orders. Jarulek was slain on the world of Tanakreg by an awakened Necron Lord after successfully recovering a potent artefact from the Necrons' stasis tomb.JiharEmperor's ChildrenJihar, also known as Jihar the Lacerator, was a Chaos Lord of Slaanesh. A traitorous officer of the Emperor's Children, towards the end of the 500s.M37 Jihar established a strong following of Chaos Space Marines from his Legion as well as Cultists, and Mutants. It is said that Jihar was possessed of terrible gifts granted to him by his master, and even the dead themselves screamed in horror when he drew near. In 599.M37, Jihar would lead a Black Crusade out of the Eye of Terror, known as the Black Crusade of Jihar the Lacerator. Imperial resistance would be led by the 13th Mordant Acid-Dogs Imperial Guard Regiment. After a long and vicious struggle throughout the Sector, Jihar was killed by the 13th Mordant's heavy weapons.
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Chaos Lord - K: NameOriginSummaryArgan KalloraxUnknownA former member of the Raven Guard Chapter, Kallorax defected and pledged his allegiance to the Ruinous Powers. He then formed a formidable warband of Chaos renegades, establishing a marauding pirate fleet in the Vidar Sector. Eventually, Kallorax's warband ran afoul of the Aeldari from Craftworld Iyanden, and was defeated by Prince Yriel. Seeking vengeance, Kallorax fought the upstart Aeldari Prince during the Battle of the Burning Moon. The Chaos Lord was defeated when he faced Yriel in mortal combat, but his surviving ships launched a devastating cyclonic torpedo attack on Iyanden which killed tens of thousands of Aeldari in retribution.KathalSons of MaliceOnce the Captain of the Sons of Malice's elite 1st Company, Kathal was granted the honour of leading the Chapter in its victory rites after the successful Cilix 225 Campaign. It was these rights that led Inquisitor Pietas to declare the Sons of Malice Heretics and ultimately to her death at the hands of the Chapter. It was Kathal who ritually sacrificed the intruding Inquisitor and ate her remains alongside his Battle-Brothers before they turned Renegade and found a new home in the service of the Chaos God Malice. After the disappearance of the Chapter Master Ba'kel Draak, Kathal replaced him as the Sons of Malice's new and current Chapter Master.KavatorUnknownKavator was a Chaos Lord who led his Warband to a mining camp on the Imperial world of Karis Cephalon, after he had been repeatedly plagued by Warp dreams, that promised him he would find something of great power there. Before Kavator could locate the object, that his dreams promised contained great power, the Warband was attacked by an Imperial Guard force led by the Inquisitor Lord Nikolai Ymerich. Unbeknownst to Kavator, the Inquisitor had been tracking the Chaos Lord's Warband for sometime and was determined to end their threat to the Imperium. The battle that ensued in the mining camp was brutal, but when it finally ended the Inquisitor Lord and his entire force lay dead; though Kavator himself was also killed and the object that had driven him to Karis Cephalon fell from his grasp, as his soul was sent spinning into the Warp.Kelbor-HalMarsKelbor-Hal was the Fabricator-General of Mars, the political leader of the Mechanicum and the Magos Mechanicus of the Cult Mechanicus during the latter days of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy in the early 31st Millennium. When the Heresy began he swore allegiance to the service of the Warmaster Horus and the forces of Chaos, becoming the first leader of the Dark Mechanicus. In the name of his new allegiance, Kelbor-Hal would unleash the terrible civil war known as the Schism of Mars upon the Red Planet, the sacred heart of the faith of the Machine God. After the Horus Heresy ended in a pyrrhic victory for the Imperium, the traitorous forces of Chaos that had served the Warmaster were driven towards the Eye of Terror during the brutal military campaigns remembered as the Great Scouring. The ultimate fate of the traitorous Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal is currently unknown.Khârn the BetrayerWorld EatersKhârn the Betrayer is a member of the World Eaters Traitor Legion of Chaos Space Marines, and the greatest mortal Champion of Khorne. Former commander of the elite 8th Assault Company, he was made Equerry of the XIIth Legion. Second only to the World Eaters Daemon Primarch Angron in aggression and bloodlust, Khârn has lived a life of murder and betrayal, the blood spilt and skulls collected for his patron beyond counting.Hans Kho'renWorld EatersAn infamous Chaos Lord of Khorne who leads the World Eaters warband known as the Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren. The corrupted Astartes of the warband are all Khornate Berserkers.KhroveThousand SonsKhrove is a Chaos Sorcerer Lord and warlord of the Thousand Sons. Unlike many of his Chaos Space Marine colleagues, Khrove was not an original member of the Legiones Astartes or a veteran of the Horus Heresy. Rather, he worked as a scholar on the Imperial world of Prekae Magna and collected much arcane and rare knowledge which was eventually stolen by Ahriman, who kidnapped Khrove and inducted him into the Thousand Sons after brutal training and genetic enhancement. Khrove was one of many Chaos Lords invited by Warsmith Chengrel of the Iron Warriors to bid for the possession of captured Aeldari Spirit Stones. Chengrel became enraged when he learned none of the invited Chaos Lords were original veterans of the Long War, and a free-for-all ensued for possession of the stones. During the resulting melee, Khrove killed the Slaaneshi champion Emmesh-Aiye with his powerful sorcery and then went on to battle Chendrel to a standstill. After finally capturing the stones, Khrove vanished in a Warp portal much to Chengrel's anger. Since then, the Iron Warriors warlord has vowed vengeance against the sorcerer.KhuzorUnknownKhuzor was a Chaos Warmaster active during the Gothic War. He led a fleet in the Formosa Cluster, eventually being brought to battle by Imperial Navy Admiral Sartus.KolvaxIron WarriorsWarsmith Kolvax was commander of a Grand Company of Iron Warriors based upon the millennia-old Fortress World of Forgefane. His personal citadel was called Ironblood Citadel and was said to have rivaled Perturabo's own fortress. During the invasion of Forgefane by Hive Fleet Leviathan, Warsmith Kolvax arrogantly declared that he would single-handedly defeat a Trygon they had named Tremorbeast. He was eaten whole by the Tremorbeast shortly before it breached the defences of Ironblood Citadel and Forgefane fell to the Great Devourer.Devram KordaBlack LegionDevram Korda, also known as "The Tyrant of Sarora", is a servant of the Chaos God Slaanesh, the Prince of Pleasure. A former Veteran Sergeant of the Sons of Horus Legion, after the events of the Horus Heresy, he rose to prominence and became a Chaos Lord. He became infamous for his blasphemous actions on the doomed world of Sarora, where he distilled the life essence of the citizens of the planet's largest hive city for a single vial of a sorcerous elixir which made him virtually invincible. He eventually became the current Lord Ravager, the individual who leads the invasion fleets of the Black Crusade in the name of Abaddon the Despoiler.KorosIron WarriorsKoros is a Warsmith of the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion and is said to be a veteran of one thousand and one sieges. As such he is a master of attacking and defending every manner of citadel. He is also a veteran of the terrible ancient campaign known as the Iron Cage, and one of the Daemon Primarch Perturabo's lieutenants, having proved himself worthy of command of one of the Iron Bastions on Medrengard, the Daemon World which is home to his Legion. Koros was dispatched to the Jericho Reach in order to oversee the fortification of numerous worlds near the Hadex Anomaly, and to lend his assistance to the forces of Chaos in the planning of a grand counter-strike against the forces of the Imperium.Kossolax the ForeswornWorld EatersKossolax, also known as Kossolax the Foresworn, is an infamous Chaos Lord who supported Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade and leads a large warband of Khornate Berserkers known as the Foresworn, drawn from the ranks of the sundered World Eaters Traitor Legion. It is believed that Kossolax was once known as Sergeant Solax of the World Eaters' 3rd Assault Company before the Horus Heresy, and this individual is thought to be the beast now known as Kossolax the Foresworn.Gideous KrallDeath GuardGideious Krall, known as the Infector of Worlds, is an infamous Chaos Lord dedicated to Nurgle. A former Captain of the Death Guard, Gideous Krall commands the warband known as the Empyrion's Blight.KraegaxBlack LegionKraegax was a Chaos Lord of a Black Legion warband. Kraegax and his Chosen took part in the attack on the Hive Vidros during which many people died. Immediately thereafter, he and his entire bodyguard of Chosen were killed by a lone Harlequin Solitaire.Kranon the RelentlessCrimson SabresKranon the Relentless is a Chaos Lord and the current leader of the Crimson Slaughter warband of Chaos Space Marines. Once the Loyalist Astartes named Sevastus Kranon, he was a militant and brutal warrior even when he was still a servant of the Emperor of Mankind as the Chapter Master of the Crimson Sabres Chapter of Space Marines. The Crimson Sabres eventually slid into heresy and damnation following the massacre committed by the Chapter on the world of Umidia. Cursed by the Blood God Khorne, the Crimson Sabres were driven insane by voices in their heads which belonged to their murdered victims. Upon leading his warband into self-imposed exile in the Eye of Terror, Sevastus was finally corrupted by the Ruinous Powers of Chaos. Renaming himself Kranon the Relentless, he has driven himself and his Chapter to commit increasingly bloody and vile acts in an attempt to silence the maddening voices that plague him and the rest of the Crimson Slaughter.Kyrus the ChantleaderWord BearersKyrus, known as Kyrus the Chantleader, is a Chaos Lord who emerged from the Hadex Anomaly in 801.M40 and orchestrated a series of devastating raids on worlds near the heart of the Jericho Reach. A Chaos Space Marine formerly of the Word Bearers Legion, Kyrus has made a number of dark pacts with the Ruinous Powers. These pacts have granted Kyrus the favour of Khorne, Slaanesh, Nurgle, and Tzeentch, and the Chaos Space Marine has led large numbers of Lesser Daemons from all four dark gods in several engagements along the length and breadth of the Reach. The daemon armies of Kyrus the Chantleader are a persistent danger to the Achilus Crusade in the Acheros Salient. Many senior Inquisitors of the Ordo Malleus consider him a much larger threat, citing a number of reports indicating that the daemon forces he surrounds himself with are particularly powerful for their kind.
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Chaos Lord - L: NameOriginSummaryLucius the EternalEmperor's ChildrenLucius the Eternal is a Chaos Lord and formidable Chaos Champion of Slaanesh and a Lord Commander of the Emperor's Children Traitor Legion. Lucius is also known as the Soulthief, Fulgrim's Champion, and the Scion of Chemos. Lucius has been blessed by Slaanesh so that when he is slain, no easy task in itself, his killer will eventually transform into Lucius if he takes any pleasure or satisfaction from the killing.Lufgt Huron / Huron BlackheartAstral ClawsLufgt Huron, the self-styled Tyrant of Badab, was once the Chapter Master of the Astral Claws and self-claimed Imperial Governor of the world of Badab Primaris in the Maelstrom Zone of the Ultima Segmentum. But ultimately, Huron became corrupt in his ambitious pursuit of power and corrupted most of his Chapter as well, leading him into open rebellion against the Imperium of Man, a conflict known as the Badab War, which lasted from 901-912.M41. Reborn as the Chaos Lord Huron Blackheart, he is an inhuman servant of Chaos who now lives only to bleed the Imperium he once served. Master of the warband of piratical Chaos Space Marines called the Red Corsairs and Lord of the Maelstrom, he is the dark-souled king of an empire of monsters. Dwelling within the swirling madness of the Maelstrom, Lord Blackheart has slowly built an empire amongst the Renegades and Heretics of that great Warp Rift that will soon rival the strength of the forces of Chaos that call the Eye of Terror home.
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Chaos Lord - M: NameOriginSummaryMadoxThousand SonsMadox was a notable Chaos Sorcerer of the Thousand Sons who led several plots to destroy his Legion's ancient foes, the Space Wolves Chapter. He reserved a special hatred for the Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane, who has foiled several plots when they confronted one another across several decades of the late 41st Millennium. It is presumed that he was finally killed on the world of Charys, where Madox hoped to enact a Chaotic ritual to fully corrupt the gene-seed of the Space Wolves and set them on the path of damnation. The ritual used to enact the Chaos Sorcerer's blasphemous ritual was interrupted by the timely intervention of Ragnar Blackmane and his fellow Space Wolves. Many decades later, while suppressing a Chaos rebellion on an unnamed world, Ragnar Blackmane heard rumours that the sorcerer Madox was still alive and leading the forces of Chaos. Though unsure if the rumours were true, it could be likely that Madox had indeed been resurrected through malefic means, as he has done so in the past by using the body of a Chaos Cultist. If this is indeed true, then Madox may truly never die, and eventually he could once again return to the material realm.Dynat MalAlpha LegionFollowing the tragic events of the Horus Heresy, during the unending bloodshed of the Great Scouring, the Traitor Chaos Warlord Dynat Mal, known as "Crowbane" for his ambush and slaughter of Raven Guard forces during the Battle of Lyx, flees to the Mandragoran Stars and gathers to him a coterie of Renegades, diabolists and Traitors thousands strong. Imperial forces sent in pursuit are repeatedly out-manoeuvred and cut apart piecemeal as Dynat's forces, now known as "The Shadowed Ones", employ guerrilla tactics and dark forces to extend their mastery over the region. After the vital Imperial outpost station at the world of Amarah in what is now the Orpheus Sector of the Segmentum Tempestus is attacked and destroyed, its entire population slaughtered and stockpiles plundered, any Imperial claim to the region is effectively severed. This sundered realm, caught beyond the light of the Imperium at the edges of the Veiled Region, becomes known as the Dark Marches and is benighted by ignorance and discord, and is shrouded from human sight. In 170.M32, the Raven Guard returned to the Dark Marches in force to exact their vengeance on Dynat Mal, but found his domain to be devoid of life and his Cruiser Occam's Razor in ruins on the Jungle World of Apollyon. The burnt hulk is stood over a valley filled with the shattered bones and armor of thousands of Alpha Legionaries. Just what befell the Shadowed Ones is unknown.Von MallasUnknownVon Mallax, also known as The False Saint and The Transgressor, was a Chaos Lord who led his own Black Crusade in 113.M38 across the Segmentum Pacificus and the Segmentum Tempestus.MalfeciusUnknownMalfecius was an obscenely powerful Chaos Lord whom the Officio Assassinorum had failed to destroy with operatives from the Eversor and Vindicare temples. So instead, in 290.M41, they sent the Culexus Assassin Vaedrex to accomplish the deed. The Culexus haunted the steps of Malfecius across the Eye of Terror. Only when Malfecius ascended to Daemon Princehood does Vaedrex finally strike. With Malfecius'’ latest incarnation rendering him vulnerable to Vaedrex' Psyk-Out Grenades, the Culexus finally manages to kill the reeling Daemon Prince with a punishing series of blasts from his Animus Speculum.MardukWord BearersMarduk is one of the more formidable Dark Apostles of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. He is a former First Acolyte of the Dark Apostle Jarulek, becoming a Dark Apostle and the master of the 34th Host in his own right in the late 41st Millennium after his former master was slain by a newly awakened Necron Lord on the world of Tanakreg. Marduk helped to lead the Word Bearers' massive Dark Crusade to seize control of the strategic Boros Gate System from the Imperium of Man, which the Word Bearers' believed would herald the End Times and the final victory of Chaos in the galaxy.MordeghaiThousand SonsHigh Magister Mordeghai, a gifted Chaos Sorcerer, was a Tribune Senioris to Magnus the Red at the Siege of the Imperial Palace during the epic Battle of Terra. Sometime during the 41st Millennium, Mordeghai had foreseen that if his Death Guard arch-rival Festardius gained control of the world of Makenna VII, the Plague Lord would use his new influence to turn Mortarion's legions against Mordeghai's cabal. The best way to prevent this from happening was to wrest control from Festardius once the Warmaster Davroth had departed. Mordeghai believed he had more than enough Thousand Sons Rubric Marines at his disposal to accomplish this.MothacWord BearersMothac is a powerful Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion and a member of the Dark Council, the ruling body of the Legion. He is described as being encased in cursed Daemon armor, a personal gift from his Primarch Lorgar.
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Chaos Lord - N: NameOriginSummaryNadzybarSabbat WorldsNadzybar was the Archon or overlord of the forces of Chaos within the Sabbat Worlds Sector from approximately 634.M41 until his death in 765.M41 during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade at the hands of the Imperial Warmaster Slaydo. He successfully organised the disparate and fractious Chaos Cults and warbands that existed within the Sabbat Worlds into a potent fighting force able to first extend the rule of the Dark Gods over the entire sector and then to keep a massive Imperial Crusade at bay for over a solar decade until he met his death at the Warmaster's own hands on the world of Balhaut.NecrosiusDeath GuardNecrosius is a bitter and twisted Chaos Sorcerer. Known also as Necrosius the Undying, he is an ancient foe of theImperium of Man. He is a sworn servant of Nurgle, the Chaos God of pestilence, despair and decay. Necrosius is the master of the warband of Chaos Space Marines known as the Apostles of Contagion and a powerful sorcerer whose dark arts of necromancy can awaken the dead to a nightmarish half-life, unleashing the Zombie Plague of the Plague Lord upon friend and foe alike.NemerothUnknownNemeroth was the Chaos Lord of the Chaos Space Marine warband known as the Chosen of Nemeroth. He was also a powerful Chaos Sorcerer who led the Chaotic assault upon the Forge World of Graia in the late 41st Millennium. Nemeroth was killed by Captain Titus, the commander of the Ultramarines 2nd Company just before he was able to ascend to become a Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided.
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Chaos Lord - O: No known Chaos Lords begin with the letter "O".
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Chaos Lord - P: NameOriginSummaryParamyxSanctors of TerraParamyx was once the Chapter Master of the Sanctors of Terra before they were deemed corrupted by the powerful Saint Basilius and their ill-fated journey into the Eye of Terror during the Abyssal Crusade. When they returned, they were wholly corrupted and dedicated to the worship of Nurgle. Now Paramyx leads his warband, renamed The Blighted Claw in spreading Nurgle's plague across numerous worlds of the Imperium. These plagues not only cause death amongst a world's population, but turn their victims into Plague Zombies which fall upon living. Currently his Warband's rampage of infection has made Paramyx a target of the White Scars' Master of the Hunt Kor'sarro Khan, who now leads his Company in pursuit of the Blighted Claw. Kor'sarro has hunted Paramyx across half a Segmentum and has vowed he will claim the traitor's head no matter how long it takes.ParisturWord BearersParistur is a powerful Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers and a member of the Dark Council, the ruling body of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. Paristur is known to have slain Blood Angels Chaplain Aristedes in personal combat at the walls of the Imperial Palace during the Battle of Terra.PericlitorWord BearersPericlitor, also known as Periclitor the Foresworn, is a Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided who was once a Chaos Lord of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. Periclitor first began his quest for ascension to daemonhood by leading the Castile V Massacre in 832.M33. He followed up this accomplishment with other triumphs in the name of the Dark Gods, including the martydom of the Imperial Saint Jerome, who was known as Jerome the Pure to the adherents of the Imperial Cult but Jerome the Fool to Periclitor's warband, the destruction of the 5th Terran Armoured Praefects Regiment in 739.M35, victory over the Grey Knights in the Sentry Vault, and the massacre of the Howling Griffons Chapter Master Orlando Furioso and much of his 1st Company on the 5,000 anniversary of the Chapter's Founding in 220.M38 at Arios Point. Following this last triumph during the Braun IV Tithe Wars, Periclitor was rewarded by the Ruinous Powers with ascension to daemonhood.Kor PhaeronWord BearersKor Phaeron was the First Captain of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion and the Primarch Lorgar's spiritual counsel and foster father during the years of Lorgar's youth on the Word Bearers' homeworld of Colchis, before Lorgar was rediscovered by the Imperium. When the Emperor found Lorgar on Colchis, Kor Phaeron was too old to undergo the full implantation process to become a a full-blooded Space Marine, but so favoured was he in the eyes of his Primarch that he received the most potent of biological augments it was possible to bestow upon a man short of elevation to the Legiones Astartes, and was declared First Captain of the Word Bearers Legion. Scorned by many in his Legion as "half Astartes", Kor Phaeron nevertheless had the ear of the Primarch and, more than any other individual, is responsible for the corruption of his Primarch and the Astartes of the XVIIth Legion into repudiating their oaths to the Emperor of Mankind and becoming willing pawns of Chaos.PhocronAlpha LegionPhocron was a name given to a supposed Alpha Legion Chaos Lord. Traveling across the Imperium, Phocron was responsible for the deaths of entire worlds through acts of sabotage, war, and terrorism undertaken by his vast network of Cultists and agents. Pursued by an unnamed Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor for nearly a century, in the end the Imperium discovered his hideout, the derelict space station and Space Hulk Hydra's Eye. However, despite taking the station and cornering Phocron, the Inquisitor was shocked to find that "Phocron" was an identity and alias used by many Alpha Legion members. There had never been a true Phocron, it was merely a name to organize cultists and agents across the Imperium. Moreover, now that the identity was compromised the Alpha Legion had decided to discard the identity anyway. Worse still for the Inquisitor, a member of the Alpha Legion had made his face identical to his own, indicating that he was the new identity to replace Phocron.PotchekUnknownPotchek was a Chaos Sorcerer and Chaos Lord who in 551.M37, organized a warband of Traitors and Heretics, Mutants, and summoned Daemons, launching an assault on the Imperial world of Persembe, resulting in the Battle for Kurin's Acropolis. On the verge of victory, Potchek's efforts were foiled by the Dark Angels 3rd Company. Coming under direct attack from Master Baradiel, Potchek's body was reduced to a bloody pulp by the Dark Angel's Storm Bolter before he could unleash a spell.Oneius PraydRed CorsairsOneius Prayd is a former Captain of the Red Scorpions, who left his Chapter in disgust after his peers refused to choose him as their new Chapter Master. He took the majority of his Company with him and led them on a rampage across numerous Xenos Worlds near the Veldin Sector. During this time, he was joined by various other renegades and outcasts. Ultimately, Prayd joined the Red Corsairs and received a vision of the Dark Gods. They commanded him to join the forces of Chaos during the Scouring of Makenna VII in order to prove his loyalty. At the time of the attack his Red Corsair force was bolstered by members of the Wolf Brothers and the Disciples of Ruin.PurgorUnknownPurgor, also known as Purgor the Putrescent, was a Chaos Lord of Nurgle who joined the Sons of Horus shortly after the Horus Heresy. After trying to turn Black Legionnaires into his own personal plague carriers, he was killed by Abaddon the Despoiler for his insolence.
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Chaos Lord - Q: No known Chaos Lord begins with the letter "Q".
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Chaos Lord - R: NameOriginSummaryReavax the CruelThe HarvestReavax is a Chaos Lord of Khorne and the current leader of the Khorne Daemonkin warband known as the Harvest.RynaxWord BearersRynax, also known as Rynax the Unspoken, was a Chaos Champion of the Word Bearers who joined the ranks of the Sons of Horus shortly after the Horus Heresy. Trying to use Black Legionaries as hosts to summon Daemons, when Abaddon got wind of the plan he killed Rynax and put his head on his trophy rack.
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Chaos Lord - S: NameOriginSummaryElak SardaUnknownElak Sarda is a prominent Chaos Cultist and commander of the Stigmartus, a large Chaos force. A charismatic leader, Elak is said to be sworn by a dark pact to some nameless daemonic entity within the Charon Stars.SathashUnknownSathash, also known as Sathas the Golden, was a Chaos Lord. In the Toran VI Massacres of 934.M41, his warband was defeated by the Crimson Fists Chapter.SavillUnknownSavill is a Chaos Lord of the Emperor's Children, who took part in attacking Hive Malogrim, during the invasion of its Hive World.Anakwanar SekSabbat WorldsAnakwanar Sek was a formidable and notorious Magister of the forces of Chaos who served under both Archon Nadzybar and Archon Urlock Gaur during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Anakwanar Sek was responsible for the creation of the elite Chaotic warband known as the Sons of Sek.Sektoth the False WhisperThousand SonsA powerful Chaos Sorcerer, Sektoth leads his large warband, known as the Warband of Sektoth, in pursuing whatever mysterious objectives he sets for himself. He prefers applying tactics that turn his enemies against themselves. He once garnered enough power to drive an entire planet mad with a single word whispered in every citizens' mind. This preference is not absolute, as he is not afraid to use more direct and coneventional methods. He reduced the Gardens of the Exquisite Delight to swampland by commandeering a hijacked Iconoclast Destroyer and crashing the kilometre-long warship into an ocean on the far side of the world, wrecking the planet’s climate in the process.Abrial ShardUnknownAbrial Shard is a Chaos renegade and well known warlord, infamous across a dozen Sectors. He swore an oath of Brotherhood with Warsmith Baldarun long ago on a Daemon World in the Eye of Terror. He is greatly interested in the secrets of Baldarun's techno-virus, and hopes to obtain its secrets in exchange for giving the Warsmith control of his men.Shon'tuIron WarriorsShon'tu was an infamous Warsmith of the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion and later Chaos Lord of the Iron Warriors warband the Sons of the Forge. He continually plagued the veteran First Captain Darnath Lysander of the Imperial Fists Chapter over many centuries. Shon'tu was present during the Siege of Terra and like most within the Iron Warriors, has swore an eternal hatred for their bitter rivals, the Imperial Fists. When Shon'tu's warband launched the Invasion of Taladorn in the 41st Millennium, they were defeated by a coalition of Imperial Fists, Ultramarines, and Blood Angels forces. Later, they (along with their Ork allies) were defeated by the Imperial Fists in the Fall of Malodrax in 971.M41.Pater SinSabbat WorldsPater Sin was the Chaos Lord of the Chaos Cult known as the Infardi on the world of Hagia during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. During the Hagia campaign, his men captured Colonel Colm Corbec of the Tanith First-and-Only, who was forced to watch as Trooper Yael of the Tanith was tortured to death in front of him, through a parody of the Nine Holy Wounds inflicted on Saint Sabbat. Corbec would later avenge Yael by killing Sin on the world of Herodor.SkchalickWorld EatersSkchalick is a Chaos Lord of the World Eaters and leader of his warband known as Lord Skchalick's Elite. He led his warband at Angron's side during the First War for Armageddon.Skyrak SlaughterbornUnknownSkyrak Slaughterborn is a Chaos Lord of the Black Legion of Chaos Space Marines and the current Lord Corruptor of the Chosen of Abaddon. Skyrak Slaughterborn leads the warbands of Nurgle within the Black Legion into battle. Collectively known as the Bringers of Decay, they spread their disease and corruption throughout the Realms of Man. Skyrak is known to have led the large warband of Chaos Space Marines known as the Slaughterkin in the assault on Cadia during the 13th Black Crusade. The Lord Corruptor is tasked with instilling fear and hatred amongst the Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion. His trophy rack is adorned with the skulls of failed servants.
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Chaos Lord - T: NameOriginSummaryThe Herald of FateThousand SonsThe Herald of Fate was a former Thousand Sons Sorcerer Lord, whose forces invaded the Imperium's Vidar Sector and brought his prophesied message of the Sector's doom to its population. During the invasion he led his forces in a conquest of the Sector's Darkfall System, but this caused the Sorcerer Lord to transcend to Daemonhood and ended his threat to the Vidar Sector. Though The Herald's prophesy of doom for the Sector did not come to pass, he had devastated the Darkfall System and left its remaining population scattered and lost.ToraminoIron WarriorsToramino was a Warsmith of the Iron Warriors and the leader of the Stor-bezashk, the IVth Legion's masters of ordnance and siege breaking during the era of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. By the 41st Millennium, he had become one of the Iron Warriors' most powerful surviving Warsmiths. He was the ruler of an ancient and mighty fortress on the Iron Warriors' daemonic homeworld of Medrengard. When the Warsmith Honsou was successful in obtaining a large stock of gene-seed from the hated Imperial Fists on the world of Hydra Cordatus, Toramino and his Grand Company wanted their promised share of the precious genetic material required to swell their numbers. When Honsou reneged on the deal and kept all of the gene-seed for his own Grand Company, Toramino declared war against his wayward comrade. Toramino and his fellow Warsmith Berrosus brought their armies to lay siege to Honsous's fortress of Khalan-Ghol. When Berrosus was killed, Toramino decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and fled for his life.TyphusDeath GuardTyphus, also known as Typhus the Traveller, originally the Space Marine named Calas Typhon of the world of Barbarus, is the Herald of Nurgle and the host of the terrible plague known as the Destroyer Hive. He is a Champion of Chaos and the former First Captain of the Death Guard Traitor Legion. Typhus is the most feared of all Chaos Lords to command one of the legendary Plague Fleets. He rules the greater portion of the Death Guard's armada from the bridge of his flagship, the Terminus Est, a warship encrusted with the filth of aeons that was ancient even when the Horus Heresy began some ten thousand standard years ago. His skill in ship-to-ship combat has been honed over many millennia of war, and when he broods in his command throne upon his starship's bridge, he and the titanic war machine become one. Though the warship exists on the cusp of Imperial legend, its three-pronged pict-sign is dreaded by admirals and Planetary Governors alike across the Segmentum Obscurus. Wherever Typhus' flagship appears, it heralds plague, death and misery on a system-wide scale. Even whispers of its coming can cause panicked evacuations from worlds in its path, for wherever Typhus goes, pain and despair blossom in his wake.
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Chaos Lord - U: NameOriginSummaryUmbragg of the Brazen FleshWorld EatersUmbragg was a World Eaters Chaos Lord and Skull Champion of Khorne, who led the Cholercaust Blood Crusade's Khornate Berserkers to the blood-drenched surface of the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor. With his warband, the Clysm, the World Eaters Chaos Champion had fought on a thousand worlds, butchering human and alien alike in the name of wanton carnage and murder, bringing glory to Khorne’s name through the prosecution of Blood Crusades, the slaughter of Slaanesh's perverse followers and the collection of skulls on an obscene scale. He was killed on Certus-Minor by the revenant Astartes of the Legion of the Damned.UrkrathosBlack LegionUrkrathos is a Chaos Lord of the Black Legion of Chaos Space Marines and the current Lord Purgator of the Chosen of Abaddon. Within the ranks of the Black Legion are those who are bloody-handed servants of Khorne. Though not a single unified warband within the Black Legion, they are collectively known as the Hounds of Abaddon. Urkrathos, the current Lord Purgator and commander of the Legion's Black Fleet, claims all followers of Khorne within the Legion as his own and directs them according to the will of Abaddon the Despoiler, the Warmaster of Chaos and master of the Black Legion. It falls to the Lord Purgator to ensure that every man, woman and child left alive on a world conquered by the Black Legion is dragged in chains into the hold of the Legion's starships, and that no edifice remains undedicated to the Dark Gods.UssaxDeath GuardBlight-Master Ussax is a veteran of the Death Guard Traitor Legion, and known as one of the Daemon Primarch Mortarion's inner circle of sorcerers. He is well known to the Ordo Malleus and to the Grey Knights, having been responsible for countless millions of deaths throughout the millennia. Ussax is held to be one of the most darkly gifted concoctors of blights, afflictions and plagues serving the Death Guard, and his recent appearance in the warzones of the Jericho Reach, attended by a cadre of Plague Marines, is a cause for much concern amongst those with knowledge of what he is capable of.
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Chaos Lord - V: NameOriginSummaryKarrad VallUnknownKarrad Vall’s name is a dark curse on those who have ventured into the Koronus Expanse. No one has ever seen him, but the barbed prows of his ships and the baying of his scarred warriors are enough to have caused captains to scuttle their craft rather than be taken before Karrad Vall, the Faceless Lord. Some whisper that Vall was once an Adept of the Munitorium, a former tithe-master swayed and fallen to the lure of the Dark Gods, whilst others claim he was once a trusted admiral of Battlefleet Calixis. What is known is that Karrad Vall braved the Maw in 794.M41 and promptly established his intent by shelling Footfall and engaging Calligos Winterscale in battle. His small fleet tore through the defences arrayed against them. As Vall departed, he cast several last taunting messages in his wake before disappearing without a trace for the next decade.Varan the UndefeatableUnknownVaran, known as "The Undefeatable," is a Chaos Lord who led the assault upon the Imperial Civilised World of Perlia during the Second Siege of Perlia, a major campaign during the 13th Black Crusade in 999.M41. Despite his many Chaotic gifts, he was subsequently defeated in personal combat by the vaunted Chaplain Ciaphas Cain. After Varan's death, his entourage was destroyed by a necron scouting force. The rest of his army, without his influence, splintered into feuding groups, which were defeated in detail by arriving Imperial reinforcements.Amadeus VolksteinUnknownVanneus was once a loyal Space Marine Epistolary of the Lectors of Ixis Chapter. The exact circumstances under which Vanneus chose or was compelled to embrace the Chaos God Tzeentch remain a mystery. It is likely that in fulfilling his duties as a psyker and projecting his mind through the Immaterium, he fell victim to one of Tzeentch's servants residing there. Whatever the circumstances may have been, it is known that Vanneus denied the Emperor, rejected his former identity, took the name Amadeus Volkstein, and now serves Tzeentch as a powerful Chaos Sorcerer. He currently leads the warband of Chaos Space Marines known as the Oracles of Change.VoraxThe EightscarredA Chaos Lord of Khorne, he is the current leader of one of many warbands of the Khorne Daemonkin warband known as the Eightscarred.Svane VulfbadSpace Wolves (Formerly)Svane Vulfbad was a Renegade Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves Space Marine Chapter. He became so disillusioned with the grinding workings and soul-killing bureaucracy of the Imperium that he turned to the worship of Chaos, and more particularly the faith of the Blood God Khorne. Wolf Lord Harald Deathwolf and his Great Company were charged in 913.M41 by the Great Wolf Logan Grimnar to track down and execute the notorious Traitor. Deathwolf and his company eventually uncovered Vulfbad in the Cliedes System, tracking their elusive quarry to the storm-wracked moon of Gallimius. After weeks of stalking their prey, Deathwolf's hunting party cornered Vulfbad atop a dust-crowned mountain just as the vile Traitor was completing a sorcerous summoning ritual that would have seen his traitorous forces thronged with daemons. The Renegade Space Wolf fought like a madman even after his allies had been slain, badly wounding Harald's Thunderwolf in the process, but he was ultimately outmatched. As Harald brought his axe around to deliver the deathblow, a bolt of lightning struck them both. When the dust settled all that remained of Vulfbad was his Frost Axe, a shard of which now juts from the cybernetic jaw of Harald's Thunderwolf.
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Chaos Lord - W: No known Chaos Lord begins with the letter "W".
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Chaos Lord - X: No known Chaos Lord begins with the letter "X".
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Chaos Lord - Y: NameOriginSummaryYgethmor the DeceiverBlack Legionknown also as the "Twice Damned" and the "Purgator of Corrialis". He currently serves as one of Abaddon the Despoiler's lieutenants and a member of his personal retinue, the Chosen of Abaddon. Ygethmor is the current Lord Deceiver, whose visions of the Warp lead the Black Crusade from star system to star system. During the 13th Black Crusade in 999.M41, the Officio Assassinorum sanctioned the deployment of an assassin team to eliminate Ygethmor, amongst other notable targets in service to the Archenemy. Whilst scrutiny of their field records is impossible, at least seven Assassinorum agents are known to have failed in the attempt to take the life of the Deceiver.
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Chaos Lord - Z: NameOriginSummaryZagtheanBlack LegionZagthean, known as Zagthean the Broken, is a Chaos Lord of the Black Legion. He led his Black Legion warband in a fury of violence and excess on the Agri-World of Valesia. For his own satisfaction, the Warlord constructed a vast maze of thorns from the world's rose orchards, blinding his prisoners and loosing them within its tunnels, before hunting them down at his leisure. Countless inhabitants spent their final terrifying hours listening desperately for the sounds of pursuit, their flesh bleeding from dozens of thorn cuts.ZhorischIron WarriorsZhorisch is an ancient master of scientific and technical pursuits as well as a cunning practitioner of the art and science of siege warfare. Warsmith Zhorisch was a member of the original Iron Warriors Legion raised up by Perturabo, and he was initially a pre-cursor of the modern Techmarine, a highly trained fighting engineer. As the IVth Legion slowly fell into bitterness and treason, he gleefully followed his leaders into rebellion against the Emperor. Over the millennia following the Horus Heresy, he rose in power with guile and cunning, eventually reaching the rank of Warsmith and leading his own warband. As a Warsmith, he developed his well-known lust for hidden knowledge, leading many a campaign of terror against unsuspecting Imperial worlds in pursuit of secrets both academic and technological. When he was given the chance to take the Obsidian Forge at Imbru, located in the Jericho Reach, and loot what he believed to be a treasure trove of Imperial secrets, he immediately accepted the task.Zhufor the ImpalerStorm LordsZhufor, also called Zhufor the Impaler and the Butcher of Vraks, is the Chaos Lord who lead the warband of World Eaters' Chaos Space Marines named the Skulltakers during the Siege of Vraks. Zhufor was not always a servant of the Dark Gods. Once, millennia ago, he was known as Balzach, a former Sergeant of the Storm Lords Chapter. During the sacking of the hive cities of Paramar, Sergeant Balzach was severely wounded and taken captive by the Traitor Marines of the World Eaters Legion. Balzach was then drugged and subjected to torture and psycho-corrective surgery to alter his brainwave patterns in order to break his Imperial indoctrination. He was turned into a raging psychopathic killer, tall and muscular beyond even his normal Space Marine physique, and reborn as Zhufor.ZymranWord BearersZymran was a Chaos Lord of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion who led a warband comprised of both Chaos Space Marines and daemons. He attempted to claim a pre-Heresy relic known as the Concordant Chaosium but was opposed by an Ultramarines strike force -- ancient and bitter rivals since the Horus Heresy.
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Chaos Lord - Sources: This is a select and incomplete list of sources; for more, see each individual Chaos Lord's own page, if appropriate.Battlefleet Gothic Magazine 9, pp. 2-3Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook, pg. 112Black Crusade: The Tome of Fate (RPG), pg. 21Black Legion: Core Rulebook (RPG), pp. 54, 341Cities of Death, "The Palace of Thorns", pp. 58-59Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition), pp. 15, 19, 21, 25, 58-63, 75Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), pp. 21, 30, 46, 48, 50-57, 70Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition), 2nd Codex), pp. 10, 22, 39, 49, 53, 57, 62Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 1st Codex), pp. 7, 25-26Codex: Chaos (2nd Edition), pp. 23, 44, 100-106, 106-108Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition), pp. 21, 42Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition), pg. 22Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pp. 13, 16, 25Codex Heretic Astartes - Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 57, 124Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), pg. 24Codex: Khorne Daemonkin (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), pp. 23, 28, 31, 37-38, 68Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), pg. 81Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 49Codex: Space Wolves (7th Edition), pg. 51Codex: Tyranids (6th Edition) (Digital Edition), pg. 51Crimson Slaughter - A Codex: Chaos Space Marines SupplementDaemonifuge (Graphic Novel Series) by Kev Walker and Jim CampbellDataslate: Centurion Siegebreaker (Digital Edition), pg. 9Dataslate: Officio Assassinorum (Digital Edition), pg. 39Deathwatch: First Founding (RPG), pp. 83, 85, 94Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter (RPG), pp. 66-67Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos (RPG), pg. 108Harlequins Painting Guide - Warriors of the Laughting God, pg. 8Horus Heresy: Collected Visions, pp. 126-127, 162-163, 183, 228, 330, 360Imperial Armour Volume Five - The Siege of Vraks - Part One, pp. 47, 54-58, 160, 178Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two, pp. 6, 26, 36Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pp. pp. 16-18, 79, 82, 84, 88, 138, 140, 172, 198-199Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part OneImperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part TwoImperila Armour Volume Twelve - The Fall of the Orpheus Sector, pp. 16, 29Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - The Lost & The Damned, pg. 24Index Astartes I, "Psykana Librarius: Space Marine Librarians," & "Children of the Emperor - The Emperor's Children Space Marine Legion"Index Astartes III, "Chosen of Khorne - The World Eaters Space Marine Legion" & "Masters of Forbidden Knowledge - The Thousand Sons Space Marine Legion", pp. 62-69Index Astartes IV, "Dark Apostles - The Word Bearers Space Marine Legion" & "Rogue Sons"Index Chaotica: Terminus Est (Digital Edition)Iyanden - A Codex: Eldar Supplement (Ebook), pp. 13-22Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness (1st Edition)Rogue Trader: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 356Sabbat Worlds Crusade (Background Book) by Dan AbnettTactica Imperialis (Sourcebook), pp. 72-90The Horus Heresy - Book Two: Massacre by Alan Bligh, pp. 138, 141, 143-144, 155, 228-229, 258-259The Horus Heresy - Book Five: Tempest by Alan Bligh, pp. 21, 28, 33, 51, 67, 69, 105, 108, 139, 157, 172, 248The Thirteenth Black Crusade (Background Book) by Andy HoareWarhammer 40,000: Apocalypse (Campaign Supplement), pg. 171Warhammer 40,000: Apocalypse: Reload (4th Edition), pg. 55Warhammer 40,000 Compendium (1st Edition), "The Badab War" by Rick Priestley, pp. 33-35Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (6th Edition), pg. 397Warlords of the Dark Millennium - Ahriman, pp. 3-4, 6-12, 25-29Warlords of the Dark Millennium - Champions of Chaos (Digital Edition), pp. 68-90, 93, 122-123, 125-129, 136-140Warlords of the Dark Millennium - Huron Blackheart, pp. 3-4, 6-10, 11-13, 21-25Warlords of the Dark Millennium - Typhus, pp. 3, 5-11, 13-16, 22-29White Dwarf Weekly 73 (June 20, 2015), "Unsheathing the Lion's Blade," pg. 35White Dwarf 393 (UK), "Dark Vengeance", pp. 22-35, 40-65White Dwarf 392 (UK), "The Crimson Slaughter," "'Eavy Metal - Chaos Space Marines," and "The Battle for Bane's Landing," pp. 32-33, 38-63White Dwarf 391 (UK), "Battle Brothers - Wade Pryce's World Eaters & Chaos Daemons," pp. 64-65White Dwarf 387 (US), "In The Company of Wolves - Saga of Harald Deathwolf" by Phil Kelly", pp. 56-59White Dwarf 362 (UK), "Liber Apocalyptica - Trygon," pg. 46White Dwarf 333 (UK), "Battle Report: The Karis Cephalon Incursion," pp. 32-48White Dwarf 287 (UK), "Eye of Terror Worldwide Event: Death by a Thousand Cuts," pg. 36White Dwarf 286 (UK), "Index Astartes: The Eye of the Storm - Blood Angels," pp. 68-69White Dwarf 282 (UK), "Heroes & Villains of the 41st Millennium - Typhus the Traveller"White Dwarf 278 (US), "Heroes & Villains of the 41st Millennium: Fabius Bile" & "Codicium Imperialis: The First War for Armageddon," by Graham McNeill and Andy HoareWhite Dwarf 275 (UK), "Index Astartes: Beasts of Steel - Chaos Space Marines tanks - The Rhino"White Dwarf 270 (US), "Index Astartes: Dark Apostles"White Dwarf 267 (US), "Index Astartes First Founding: Masters of Forbidden Knowledge, The Thousand Sons Space Marine Legion"White Dwarf 258 (UK), "Psykana Librarius: Space Marine Librarians"White Dwarf 255 (US), "Index Astartes First Founding: Children of the Emperor"White Dwarf 230 (US), "Bitter and Twisted: Ahriman" & "WH40K 3rd: Bitter and Twisted - Khârn the Betrayer", pg. 42White Dwarf 227 (US), "Chapter Approved - Ahriman: Chaos Sorcerer," "Chapter Approved - Fabius Bile: Chaos Lord," & "Chapter Approved: Chaos, Khârn the Betrayer", pp. 73-80White Dwarf 202 (US), "The Sorcerer: Tzeentch, Ahriman", pp. 9-14White Dwarf 201 (US), "The Betrayer", pp. 87-90White Dwarf 101 (UK) "Index Astartes: The Badab Uprising" by Rick PriestleyHorus Rising (Novel) by Dan Abnett, pp. 315-319, 326, 347-348False Gods (Novel) by Graham McNeill, pp. 31-32, 36, 42-43, 45-52, 54, 56-60, 76, 89, 103-106, 109-110, 112-113, 116, 132, 174-177, 191, 198, 205-207, 210-211, 260, 265-267, 271-273, 277, 293-295, 298, 341-342Galaxy In Flames (Novel) by Ben CounterThe Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel) by James SwallowFulgrim (Novel) by Graham McNeillA Thousand Sons (Novel) by Graham McNeillBattle for the Abyss (Novel) by Ben CounterMechanicum (Novel) by Graham McNeillAge of Darkness (Anthology) edited by Christian Dunn, Rebirth by Chris WraightShadows of Treachery (Anthology), The Crimson Fist (Short Story) by John FrenchTales of Heresy (Anthology) edited by Nick Kyme and Lindsey Priestley, After Desh'ea by Matthew FarrerNemesis (Novel) by James Swallow, pp. 13-15, 17-19, 244-245, 249, 273-274, 324-326, 354-355, 387-391, 404-408The First Heretic (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, pp. 9, 61-64, 66, 68-73, 81-83, 88-89, 117, 159, 163, 166, 228, 269-270, 278, 295, 301, 318, 323, 361-362, 367-368, 370-371, 380, 382, 385-386, 393-394, 414-420, 432, 437Fear to Tread (Novel) by James Swallow, pp. 30-31, 90, 96-97, 111, 120, 151, 178-179Betrayer (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, pp. 12-13, 78-80, 106, 112, 114-118, 123-128, 142-143, 149-153, 158, 169, 185, 196, 203-204, 209-210, 219-222, 227-229The Primarchs (Anthology), "The Reflection Crack'd" by Graham McNeill & "The Lion," by Gav ThorpeAngel Exterminatus (Novel) by Graham McNeillVulkan Lives (Novel) by Nick Kyme, pp. 9, 210-211Blood Ravens: Dawn of War Omnibus (Novel compilation) by C.S. GotoAtlas Infernal (Novel) by Rob SandersAhriman: Exile (Novel) by John FrenchConquest of Armageddon (Novel) by Jonathan GreenDark Apostle (Novel) by Anthony ReynoldsDark Disciple (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds, pp. 13, 18-19, 21, 115-116Dark Creed (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds, pp. 4-5, 9, 22, 53, 56, 99, 102, 156-157, 159-160, 164, 167-168Dark Vengeance (Novel) by CZ DunnDaemon World (Novel) by Ben CounterArchitect of Fate (Anthology), Endeavour of Will (Short Story) by Ben CounterDark Imperium (Anthology), The Wrath of Khârn by William KingDead Sky, Black Sun (Novel) by Graham McNeillHeroes of the Space Marines (Anthology), "Skull Harvest" by Graham McNeill & "The Labyrinth," (Short Story) by Richard FortInto the Maelstrom (Anthology), "Into the Maelstrom by Chris PramasIron Warriors Omnibus (Novel), "The Beast of Calth" by Graham McNeillPlanetkill (Anthology), "The Heraclitus Effect" by Graham McNeillRenegades of the Dark Millennium (Anthology), "The Corpse Road" by Graham McNeillLysander: The Fist of Dorn (Short Story) by Anthony ReynoldsSilver Skulls: Portents (Novel) by Sarah CawkwellStorm of Iron (Novel) by Graham McNeillTales from the Dark Millennium (Anthology) The Falls of Marakross (Short Story) by Steve ParkerThe Chapter's Due (Novel) by Graham McNeillThe Gildar Rift (Novel) by Sarah CawkwellThe Iron Without (Short Story) by Graham McNeillThe Legion of the Damned (Novel) by Rob SandersTreacheries of the Space Marines (Anthology), The Masters, Bidding (Short Story) by Matthew Farrer, The Long War (Short Story) by Andy Hoare & We Are One (Short Story) by John FrenchGaunt's Ghosts (Series) by Dan AbnettNecropolis (Novel) by Dan AbnettSabbat Martyr (Novel) by Dan AbnettTraitor General (Novel) by Dan AbnettHonour Guard (Novel) by Dan AbnettCadian Blood (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-BowdenCain's Last Stand (Novel) by Sandy MitchellThe Traitor's Hand (Novel) by Sandy MitchellSoul Hunter (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-BowdenVoid Stalker (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-BowdenBlood Reaver (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-BowdenRed Fury (Novel) by James SwallowBlack Tide (Novel) by James SwallowKhârn - Eater of Worlds (Novella) by Anthony ReynoldsThe Weakness of Others (Novella) by Laurie GouldingThe Unkindness of Ravens (Novella) by George MannButcher's Nails (Audio Drama) by Aaron Dembski-BowdenAscension of Balthasar (Audio Drama) by CZ DunnChosen of Khorne (Audio Drama) by Anthony ReynoldsForge World Horus Heresy Character Series - Erebus & Kor PhaeronForge World - Kharn the BloodyForge World - Calas Typhon, First Captain of the Death Guard LegionForge World - Space Marine Badab War Characters Update Version 2 (6th Edition)Dawn of War (PC Game)Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising (PC Game)Dawn of War - Dark CrusadeDawn of War - Winter AssaultChaos Space Marine ForcesCommandChaos Lord • Exalted Champion • Chaos Champion • Aspiring Champion • Sorcerer Lord • Daemon Prince • Daemon Prince of Nurgle • Daemon Prince of Tzeentch • Death Guard LordSpecialistsExalted Sorcerer • Sorcerer • Warpsmith • Dark Apostle • Master of Possession • Master of Executions • Lord Discordant • Warsmith • Death Guard Sorcerer • Lord of Contagion • Malignant Plaguecaster • Plague Surgeon • Tallyman • Scarab Occult Sorcerer • Scarab Occult TerminatorsTroopsChaos Space Marines • Havocs • Chosen • Chaos Terminators • Possessed • Greater Possessed • Khorne Berzerkers • Plague Marines • Noise Marines • Rubric Marines • Obliterators • Mutilators • Chaos Spawn • Fallen Angels • Noxious Blightbringer • Foul Blightspawn • Biologus Putrifier • Blightlord Terminators • DeathshroudFast AttackChaos Space Marine Bikers • Chaos Space Marine Raptors • Warp TalonsChaos DreadnoughtsHelbrute • Ferrum Infernus Dreadnought • Chaos Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought • Sonic Dreadnought • Berserker Dreadnought • Leviathan DreadnoughtVehicles and Daemon EnginesChaos Rhino • Chaos Predator • Infernal Relic Predator • Chaos Vindicator • Chaos Land Raider • Chaos Land Raider Proteus • Infernal Relic Land Raider Achilles • Land Raider Hades Diabolus • Relic Sicaran Battle Tank • Maulerfiend • Forgefiend • Defiler • Brass Scorpion • Blood Slaughterer • Blight Drone • Foetid Bloat-drone • Kytan • Plague Hulk • Venomcrawler • Myphitic Blight-haulerHeavy Vehicles and Daemon EnginesSpartan Assault Tank • Fellblade • Decimator • Typhon Heavy Siege Tank • Lord of Skulls • Death Wheel • Plaguereaper • Plagueburst Crawler • Silver Tower of TzeentchAircraftHeldrake • Stormbird • Thunderhawk • Chaos Storm Eagle • Chaos Fire Raptor • Hell Blade • Hell Talon • Harbinger • Chaos Dreadclaw • Kharybdis Assault Claw • Fire Lord • Doom WingSummoned DaemonsBloodletters • Plaguebearers • Horror of Tzeentch • Daemonette • Nurglings • Beast of Nurgle • Plague Drone • Flamer • ScreamerLost and the DamnedChaos Cultists • Poxwalkers • Pestigor • Plague Zombies • Plague Ogryn • Thrall Wizard • Tzaangor • Tzaangor Enlightened • Tzaangor Shaman • Dark DiscipleChampionsMagnus the Red • Mortarion • Abaddon the Despoiler • Kharn the Betrayer • Typhus • Ahriman • Huron Blackheart • Fabius Bile • Cypher • Haarken Worldclaimer • Invocatus
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Chaos Space Marine Biker - Chaos Space Marine Biker: A Chaos Space Marine Biker is a well-armed and highly mobile reconnaissance warrior of the Chaos Space Marines who is often used by his warband to launch deadly raids behind enemy lines. Using Chaos-corrupted Astartes Assault Bikes, the roar of their bike's engines growls like a snarling beast that fires the damned soul of its Heretic Astartes rider to acts of greater recklessness and bloodshed. Trailing brimstone and death in their wake, the Chaos Space Marine Bikers act as the harbingers of their vile, dark Traitor Legions.Well-armed and highly mobile, Chaos Biker squads are mounted on bladed bikes that are possessed of a sinister, mechanical sentience. Even amongst the Chaos Space Marines, their Biker squads have a reputation for cruelty. They are tireless in pursuit of an enemy and will follow a foe night and day to kill or capture them -- or in the hope that they will be led to fresh victims. Some have even melded physically with their metal steeds through the power of the Warp, balefire jetting from their exhausts and oil flowing in their veins.Chaos Bikers are excellent for reconnaissance and launching deadly raids behind enemy lines. Like those of their Loyalist counterparts, Chaos Assault Bikes are rugged and well-suited to dense terrain, though they have often been twisted by Chaos into something far more unsettling than a simple machine. They are fitted with built-in Bolters that can be fired by the rider without him needing to relinquish control of his steed, and they are often festooned with blades and spurs that dismember opponents as the rider crashes past.
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Chaos Space Marine Biker - Role: The Assault Bike, along with its Attack Bike variant, have been used by the Adeptus Astartes since the dawn of the Imperium of Man. The Space Marine Legions that fought throughout the Great Crusade maintained a large stock of these lightweight but powerful machines, often deploying entire companies of Assault Bikes to use for lightning fast attacks on their enemies. These vehicles were also deployed during the Horus Heresy by both Loyalist and Traitor Legions alike. During the Heresy, many Assault Bike Squads were used by the Traitor Legions to hunt down Loyalist survivors of the virus-bombing of Istvaan III, and to finish off the Loyalist assault during the Drop Site Massacre on Istvaan V. After the death of the rebellion's leader, the Arch-Traitor Horus, the Traitor Legions made a hasty retreat from Terra into the Eye of Terror, though they took their Bike Squads with them.Even amongst the ruthless Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Bikers have a fell reputation for cruelty. They are merciless in pursuit of an enemy, following a vanquished foe for many miles to kill or capture them, or in the hope that they will lead the bikers to fresh victims and plunder. Where once Assault Bikes were just another piece of equipment to the Traitor Legions, the millennia spent within the Warp have changed these once magnificent machines into extensions of their corrupted riders. The Chaos Space Marine Bikers and their Assault Bikes are now covered in cruel spikes, jutting horns and festooned with blades and spurs that are used to cut and ensnare opponents as the Chaos rider smashes past. Their Assault Bikes are usually armed with twin-linked Bolters fitted to the front armoured cowling of their bikes and a sizable proportion have these weapons replaced with Melta Guns or Plasma Guns to provide even heavier firepower.
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Chaos Space Marine Biker - Unit Composition: 2-8 Chaos Bikers1 Chaos Biker Champion
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Chaos Space Marine Biker - Wargear: Power ArmourBolt PistolCombi-bolter (on bike)Frag GrenadesKrak GrenadesChainaxe (Optional replacement for Champion's Bolt Pistol)Lightning Claw (Optional replacement for Champion's Bolt Pistol)Plasma Pistol (Optional replacement for Champion's Bolt Pistol, or for one Traitor Marine's Bolt Pistol)Power Fist (Optional replacement for Champion's Bolt Pistol)Power Maul (Optional replacement for Champion's Bolt Pistol)Power Sword (Optional replacement for Champion's Bolt Pistol)Flamer (Additional weapon for two Chaos Bikers' or replacement for 2 Chaos Bikers' Combi-bolter)Meltagun (Additional weapon for two Chaos Bikers' or replacement for 2 Chaos Bikers' Combi-bolter)Plasma Gun (Additional weapon for two Chaos Bikers' or replacement for 2 Chaos Bikers' Combi-bolter)
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Chaos Space Marine Biker - Notable Chaos Space Marine Bikers: Doomrider - Doomrider is a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh. Mounted upon his daemon-possessed Assault Bike adorned with deadly scything blades and sharp, protruding spikes, Doomrider wields his deadly daemonic sword, carving a bloody path through the battlefields of the material universe. Though he can be summoned by Chaos Cultists through foul, debased rituals to aid the Forces of Chaos, his nature is fickle, for Doomrider seldom stays in the material realm for any length of time and will often return to his own realm within the Warp as suddenly as he appears.Hounds of Huron - The Hounds of Huron are a Chaos Space Marine biker force that is part of the infamous Renegade Red Corsairs warband. They serve as the Chaos Lord Huron Blackheart's harbingers of dark fury. The Hounds are composed of Chaos Space Marine Bike Squads ideally suited for hit-and-run raids and they use their speed to hunt down their prey. They lash out at their intended targets with roaring Chainswords and slash their foes to ribbons using these scythed blades. The Hounds of Huron are often used to destroy isolated targets as well as to track down and execute fleeing enemies. Imposing and powerful Chaos Lords within the ranks of the Red Corsairs known as Huntmasters are able to temporarily gain the allegiance of large warbands of Chaos Space Marine Bikers from across the Maelstrom with the promise of delivering to these Renegades a great bounty. These imposing figures answer only to the Tyrant of Badab himself. The Huntmasters are able to rally a sizeable pack of followers shortly before a major engagement is to occur. There are no more than 4 Huntmasters within the Red Corsairs at any given time, for all of them are bitter rivals vying for glory in the eyes of their dark master. The rewards for obedience to the Tyrant are great but the punishment for treachery is fatal. Amongst the Hounds' other tasks is the need to hunt down those Renegade Space Marines who were once members of the Red Corsairs and have since put their own agenda above that of the Tyrant's -- a common flaw amongst the servants of the Ruinous Powers.
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Chaos Space Marine Chosen - Chaos Space Marine Chosen: The Chosen of a Chaos Space Marine warband are the most battle-hardened of the Heretic Astartes and are functionally equivalent to the Veteran Marines of the Adeptus Astartes.The most experienced and dedicated Chaos Space Marines are known as "Chosen." Even at a glance, it is obvious that they are favoured amongst the bitter brotherhood of Chaos, for their baroque armour is embellished with forbidden runes and their grimacing helmets give them the aspect of raging daemons.Equipped with the finest wargear the warband can provide, the Chosen are even more hard-bitten and callous than other Chaos Space Marines, and think nothing of sacrificing the lives of their comrades to increase their own standing with the gods.Squads of Chosen have many centuries of combat experience to draw upon and are typically found in the vanguard of any attack, fighting from the front where they can earn the most glory and take the greatest spoils.Sometimes the Chosen will use their battle skills to infiltrate enemy lines and set up ambushes, or outflank an enemy army to launch surprise attacks on the opposition’s strongpoints.Confident in the extreme, and contemptuous even of those that march to war alongside them, the Chosen bow only to the gods themselves and to the Chaos Champions who command their allegiance.Like Chaos Champions, there are many Heretic Astartes who may be called Chosen; dedicated, deadly soldiers. Chosen often band together with other such veterans and may be defined as much by the wargear they wield and the tactics they prefer as their dedication to a particular Chaos God.Both weapons and tactics can be extremely varied, from close combat weapons such as Chainswords and Lightning Claws, to Reaper Autocannons and Lascannons, and the ever-redoubtable Bolter. Chosen come in many forms, from the raging World Eaters Berserkers to the jaded Noise Marines of the Emperor's Children, and likewise their personalities vary wildly.Some leap into battle with unrestrained savagery, trusting in their berserker rage to overwhelm their enemies, while others may rely on a methodical, stoic approach or even simple, practical sorceries and dark charms to win the day. However, many Chosen are professional and pragmatic. They use all tools at their disposal to their fullest extent to ensure victory, making them consummate and terrifying warriors.
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Chaos Space Marine Chosen - Role: Many Chosen are far more focused on the art of war than they are upon spreading the influence of Chaos.Disdaining lofty goals or devoted worship, these Chosen dedicate themselves to battle instead, becoming avatars of militant destruction. They live for fighting and embrace its countless forms.When not actively engaged in war, they train for it, and even when unable to train, their minds run ever ahead to the next conflict. Though they may acknowledge the Dark Gods with rites and sacrifices, this is done in a pragmatic and often perfunctory manner.These Heretic Astartes offer tribute to the gods so that the gods will help them engage in their speciality and their greatest passion -- war in all its countless forms.Their constant study and practice has invariably borne fruit. Chosen are virtually peerless warriors. While they may have a chosen speciality -- melee combat, heavy weapons, or some other combat doctrine -- they are generally familiar with a broad array of different techniques.Chosen constantly analyse the techniques used by their opponents and their allies. Between battles they often spend time either incorporating new techniques into their arsenal or identifying ways to counter tactics that they have seen others use. This endless dedication and training sometimes grants them the capability to identify an opponent's background based upon their fighting style and prepared to counter their foe’s moves long before they are undertaken.Chosen embrace the challenges of battle with their whole being. They accept risks without question and, for many, battle is an end in itself. Glory, power, and material possessions are trivial concerns to these warriors, simply benefits that come from victory and allow them to continue waging war.The opportunity to vanquish a foe and revel in their triumph is the reward for which they strive. While they are grateful for the blessings of their Dark Gods and any tools of battle they might wrench from the stilled hands of their foes, the time after battle is not one for celebration. Rather, it is a time for recovery so that they might ensure victory over their next opponent.The life of a Chaos Space Marine is a hard one, but the life of a Chosen may be even more challenging. The constant training and overwhelming thirst for battle can begin to stress even their superhuman physiques. Consequently, their lives are often snuffed out early, as they continue to accept ever more dangerous assignments. However, those who survive become ever more dangerous.These Heretic Astartes are unusual in that they seldom fear the transformation to Chaos Spawn to the same extent as most other servants of the Dark Gods. Though they are hardly anxious to undergo such a conversion, they know that even those wretched creatures are used in battle by the Ruinous Powers for all eternity. While they would certainly prefer the powers and privileges granted to a Daemon Prince, Chosen typically are less interested in the responsibilities involved in leadership or rule.As long as Chosen are granted opportunities for battle, these Chaos Space Marines embrace those chances with their whole being. Their actions may earn them glory and the blessings of their Dark Gods, but such praises are not their goal.This is not due to any sense of false modesty. Rather, to these stalwarts, the only glory that can be savoured is that earned on the battlefield. The only praise worth remembering is the cry of agony wrenched from the throat of a defeated foe.Unless the recognition they receive enables them to engage in further battle or defeat more and ever more capable opponents, then that recognition holds no meaning to them. These Heretic Astartes live for the rush of conflict. All other matters are to be dealt with by those the Chosen view as lesser beings. They demand only their armaments and a foe upon which to test them.
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Chaos Space Marine Chosen - Unit Composition: 4-9 Chosen1 Chosen Champion
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Chaos Space Marine Chosen - Wargear: Power ArmourBoltgunBolt PistolFrag GrenadesKrak GrenadesChainsword (Optional replacement for Boltgun or for any one of Chosen Champion's weapons)Chainaxe (Optional replacement for any one of Chosen Champion's weapons)Plasma Pistol (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Bolt Pistol or for any one of Chosen Champion's weapons)Power Weapon (Any type as optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Boltguns or for any one of Chosen Champion's weapons)Lightning Claw (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Boltguns or for any one of Chosen Champion's weapons)Power Fist (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Boltguns or for any one of Chosen Champion's weapons)2 Lightning Claws (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Boltguns and Bolt Pistols)Combi-weapon (Any type as optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Boltguns)Flamer (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's Boltguns)Meltagun (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's BoltgunsPlasma Gun (Optional replacement for 4 Chosen's BoltgunsHeavy Bolter (Optional replacement for 1 Chosen's Boltgun)Meltagun (Optional replacement for 1 Chosen's Boltgun)Autocannon (Optional replacement for 1 Chosen's Boltgun)Lascannon (Optional replacement for 1 Chosen's Boltgun)Missile Launcher (with Frag Missiles and Krak Missiles) (Optional replacement for 1 Chosen's Boltgun)Chaos Rhino (dedicated transport for squad)
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Chaos Space Marine Chosen - Notable Chosen: Dzargon Draznicht - Dzargon Draznicht is a Chaos Champion and Chosen of the Renegade Space Marine warband known as the Crimson Slaughter. Once the wisest mind in the Crimson Sabres Chapter before their corruption by the Ruinous Powers, he was renowned for his preternatural perception, which caused him to mutate when his Chapter fell to Chaos. His mind was opened to the power of the Warp and a hideous third eye opened upon his forehead, always seeking out new paths for slaughter, murder and mayhem. Now Draznicht follows the Chaos Lord Kranon the Relentless as his chief subordinate and leader of the warband's Chosen.Verzekh - Verzekh was a Heretic Astartes and Chaos Champion of the Black Legion who served as the primary lieutenant of the Sorcerer Chaos Lord Xorphas and commanded Xorphas' unit of Chosen. Verzekh served by Xorphas' side during the Diamor Campaign just before the 13th Black Crusade. He was killed in action by Captain Aphael of the Blood Angels Chapter.
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Chaos Space Marine Havocs - Chaos Space Marine Havocs: Chaos Space Marine Havocs are the Heretic Astartes variant of the Space Marine Devastator, heavy weapon specialists who are trained to annihilate the foe at range.Squads of Havocs provide devastating anti-infantry and anti-armour firepower, dominating large swathes of the battlefield with volley after punishing volley.
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Chaos Space Marine Havocs - Role: Some Heretic Astartes squads carry a high proportion of heavy weapons to lay down supporting fire for their brethren. Known as Havocs, these squads provide devastating anti-infantry and anti-armour firepower, and dominate large swathes of the battlefield with their merciless volleys of fire. A Chaos Havoc Squad normally consists of 4 Chaos Space Marines armed with heavy weapons and an Aspiring Champion of Chaos whos serves as the squad leader.Such is the blood-pounding thrill of pouring heavy fire into the enemy ranks that many Havocs become obsessed by the power their weapons afford them. They see themselves as gods of the battlefield, blasting the insect vermin of the enemy into oblivion with each twitch of the finger. Over time, a Havoc Squad that lingers within the Warp may find their heavy weapons becoming a part of them, extensions of their own physical body that can never be laid down or relinquished.Casings blend with flesh, blood plasma becomes highly volatile, and ammunition hoppers become hungry second mouths that snap and growl for more bullets. Eventually, Chaos Space Marine and weapon become one and the same entity.This is the way of Chaos -- where the Warp bleeds into realspace, it is not nature that defines form but deadly psychic compulsion -- the ugliness in a Havoc's soul is made manifest in the flesh for all to see.Havocs often employ Rhino armoured transports, allowing a Havoc Squad to speedily claim high ground or some other strategically important vantage point, from which they can decimate the enemy with their heavy weapons. A Chaos Rhino also allows Havocs to redeploy rapidly, should all their targets be destroyed or an enemy assault be imminent. In this way, the Havocs always stand ready to lend their supporting firepower to their corrupt brethren where the fighting is thickest.
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Chaos Space Marine Havocs - Unit Composition: 4-9 Havocs1 Aspiring Champion
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