The Chaos Gods, also called the Dark Gods or the Ruinous Powers, are powerful entities who inhabit and control the psychic dimension that underlies all physical reality known as the Immaterium or the Warp. Chaos Champions are rewarded with 'gifts' unique to each god and the potential blessing of ascension to a Daemon Prince. In the early history of the galaxy, the powers of the Warp had yet to form into distinct, intelligent entities. 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. 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. 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. 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. They are created and sustained by the emotions and collective desires of every sentient being of the material universe. 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. To truly affect reality, they must use mortal creatures of flesh and blood. Vast swathes of the Immaterium are in a constant state of flux, every moment a new territory won or lost. https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Chaos_Gods?oldid=369297. It is a place of metaphor and madness, that can never be perceived or understood except through symbols and subjective interpretation. He is a deity who represents the struggle against the entire notion of gods and religion. His followers, sometimes called the Doomed Ones, constantly search for worshippers of the other Chaos gods in order to kill them. 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 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. Instead, their immortal energy is swallowed into the greatness of their gods, their souls sustained forever, bound to the eternal power of Chaos. The Star of Chaos. Some Chaos Champions choose to pledge themselves to single Chaos God. This list does not include Chaos Gods that fall into the humour category. 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. At this time, the emotions of sentient mortals flowed and ebbed as water does in a stream. This struggle for dominance is known as the Great Game. 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. Pantheons. 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. The… Numbered amongst the most powerful of the Chaos Gods are Khorne, the God of Warfare, Violence and Murder, Nurgle, the God of Disease and Decay, Tzeentch, the God of Change and Sorcery and Slaanesh, the God of Pleasure and Pain. In the form of dust it rained down upon the world, warping many species into monstrous new forms, as well as leaving a far more subtle and insidious mark upon other races.Needs Citation At the moment of the collapse, the polar areas of the world were engulfed b… 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. The main four Chaos Gods appear in both Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy. The name \"Khorne\" derives from his Dark Tongue name, \"Kharneth\", meaning \"Lord of Rage\" or \"Lord of Blood\". Series. Since time immemorial, the Chaos Gods have warred with one another, vying for power amid the immaterial planes. A map of the Realm of Chaos; note the positions and distances between the places on this map are only allegorical; distance and time have no meanings in the Immaterium. The best start is always two troops choices and one HQ. Chaos itself is the spiritual force embodied by these forces. Malal, like every God of Chaos, represents something, and he represents the indiscriminate tendency to destruction, even of oneself and one's agents. 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. Necoho the Doubter is the Chaos God of the opposition to religion itself. They may give their service to one Chaos God but are likely to never gain much favour with an individual power because of their veneration of Chaos … They made a major return in the Tome of Salvation (a supplement about gods for the 2nd edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay by Black Industries), where they are both described as \"Aspects of an unknown deity\".Both are aspects of Malal, the Renegade God, who is no longer present in the War… These daemons may be reabsorbed into the god at their whim. The chaos gods create, change, guide and destroy their daemons at will. See more ideas about warhammer art, warhammer, warhammer 40000. Malal is a renegade Chaos God who, for unknown reasons, turned against his peers and wishes to destroy them. 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. Eventually, the gods grew to such a point where they could act independently of the general flow of emotions and thus became the Gods of Chaos. 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. The most powerful and most malevolent of these have become the Gods of Chaos. Eventually, the gods grew to such a point where they could act independently of the general flow of emotions and thus became the Gods of Chaos. In the early history of the galaxy, the powers of the Warp had yet to form into distinct entities. 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. 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. Slaanesh was the last of the major Chaos Gods to be born—coming into existence with the collapse of the Eldar civilisation. 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 Eldar's lost gods or the Emperor of Mankind Himself. A Chaos Space Marine of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion, the first of the ancient Space Marine Legions to turn to Chaos before the Horus Heresy.. 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. Despite their myriad differences, the Great Gods of Chaos have the same goal: total domination. The gods whose existence was once denied by the early Imperium of Man's ruling ideology called the Imperial Truth are real. The forces of Chaos consist mainly of daemons who serve the Chaos Gods. It is also the Warp that allows Mankind, and many other races, to travel the vast distances of space. Chaos in the warp is immortal. [3], Beyond the main four, the warp has created many nameless chaos gods, only to die with the passing of aeons. 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. 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. There are million Chaos Gods of all shapes and strengths. The least of the minor gods may be so limited in their power that expending their power to create a daemon means their entire power is expended; in effect, the god becomes a daemon. A Lord of Change, Greater Daemon of Tzeentch. Eventually, the gods grew to such a point where they could act independently of the general flow of emotions and thus became the Gods of Chaos. When a follower of a Chaos God dies, their soul is absorbed into the greater mass of that god, adding its energy to the already formidable power of that god.[1]. In the early history of the galaxy, the powers of the Warp had yet to form into distinct entities. But PHYSICALLY? Of these the following are known or speculated to exist within the setting:[5], Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 1st Codex), https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Gods_of_Chaos&oldid=412914. But these can send aspects into any reality they want. Each one is given form and fed by the emotions manifested by sentient beings in the material universe. On the worse side, it seems the Gods of Chaos must be pulling double-duty as the Gods of Order considering they also have aspect… 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. This page was last edited on 28 December 2019, at 20:21. The foul Warp entities that would become the four Great Powers of Chaos had not yet fully formed when the Emperor was born on Earth during prehistoric times, somewhere in ancient central A… The Blood God himself has marked this land, and will claim your skulls for his throne. The Chaos Gods' most devoted followers are known as Champions, spiritually bound to their patrons. 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. 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. There is also a "fifth" God of Chaos 1. A follower of Chaos Undivided may also honour the lesser daemonic entities of the Warp if they are likely to aid him. Nurgle, the Fly Lord gives his ‘blessing’ of disease, pestilence, and decay. 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. 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. 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. At such times as a warrior's heart turns to Malal, all Gods of Chaos grow fearful, and the laughter of the Outcast God fills the tomb of space..." —From The Great Book of Despair. Fluff wise the Tyranids have the best chance of stopping Chaos in the material world. Eventually, these instinctual, formless entities gained a rudimentary consciousness of their own. 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. Note: This section discusses material that was once considered canon but whose canonicity may now be questionable.The Emperor is the collective reincarnation of all the shamans of Neolithic humanity's various peoples, the first human psykers. 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 early history of the galaxy, the powers of the Warp had yet to form into distinct, intelligent entities. Although they are god-like beings, they are by their nature monomaniacal and completely single-minded (formed completely of a single emotion or concept) as well as being completely dependent on the emotions of mortal creatures for their power and continued existence. In the Warp, the psychic reflection of similar thoughts and emotions gather together like rivulets of water running down a cliff face. 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. 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. Put down your arms, unbelievers, and bow before the forces of Chaos Undivided. Some Traitor Marines pledged their service to all four of the Dark Gods, a malevolent force known as Chaos Undivided, whilst others preferred to dedicate themselves to the worship of only one of the Ruinous Powers. Champion of Nurgle - Disease and death are sacred to Nurgle and the Champion of Nurgle embodies all of these. In both the Fantasy and 40k settings there are four chief Chaos deities, and a number of minor gods. A daemon is an entity of pure psychic energy formed from a fragment of a Chaos God's consciousness. At the dawn of time, the powerful and ancient alien race known only as the Old Ones nurtured some of the primitive intelligent races of the Milky Way Galaxy, guiding their development to suit a specific purpose. Slaanesh, the Dark Prince of Pleasure. 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. As the intelligent mortal species grew and prospered, so did the strength of their emotions. There are million Chaos Gods of all shapes and strengths. Such absolute power cannot be shared - especially amongst gods. The name Slaanesh derives from Slaaneth — the god's name in the language of Chaos, (Slaa meaning \"ecstasy\", \"pleasure\", etc, Neth meaning \"lord of\", \"master of\", or \"prince of\"; hence, the Prince of Pleasure). Slaanesh came into being with the fall of the Eldar, The other 3, who knows? Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways. It is believed by some savants that it is one of these minor deities who transformed the Chaos Space Marine Raptors into their current state. 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. Slaanesh is the Chaos God of lust, greed, excess, pain, pleasure, perfection and hedonism. Khorneis born of hate and rage. Where Tzeentch would see hopes thrive and fortunes change, Nurgle, the Father of Plagues, revels in despair and hopelessness. Maliceis born of anarchy and hatred, and directly opposes the other four powers. 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. [Needs Citation]Slaanesh typically appears in a form which is female on the right side and male on the left, with two sets o… 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. They are corrupting beings that seek to influence the Mortal Realms and their struggles, often through their daemonic legions. 3. 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 Eldar as daemons. 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. For long periods, one god may dominate the others, fed by its own success and leeching its foes' energy for its own growth. This name generator will give you 10 random names for the forces of Chaos, part of the Warhammer 40k universe. 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. 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. 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. For Mankind, the most significant occasion of this type was the rise of the Emperor. 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. This struggle for dominance over the Warp and the physical universe by the Chaos Gods is known as the "Great Game.". Slaanesh, the perverse Lord of Pleasure, corrupts from the inside with debased rites and the misguided lure of the flesh. Isha (Wh40k) Tzeentch; Chaos Gods; Chaos Undivided - Character; Chaos worship; Chaos Cultists; Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Deal With the Devil; Summary. 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. In essence Mephisto could easily be a chaos god. Its domain covers the most basic and brutal of sentient emotions and actions, such as hate, anger, rage, war and killing. The Chaos Gods are dependent upon the emotions of mortal creatures, especially the hordes of humanity, for their power and continued existence. When chaos was first forming (just after War in Heaven for 40k) there were many chaos gods and entities competing (rather than the total domination that exists now). Victory in mortal battles lends more power to the relevant god, although often victory is not necessary, just the shedding blood and sacrifice is required. 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. … Khorne is the oldest, and is traditionally seen as generally the strongest. Khorne, also called the Blood God and the Lord of Skulls, is the Chaos God of blood, war and murder. Chaos Gods. During this time, the forces of the Ruinous Powers can be considered to serve a concept known as Chaos Undivided. 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: The Chaos Gods' most devoted and powerful mortal followers are known as Champions of Chaos, and are spiritually bound to their patrons. 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.