Blood God, Lord of Skulls, Kharneth, Hunter of Souls; these are but some of names and titles given to the Chaos God of war, hatred, slaughter, blood but also martial prowess and honour. Across thousands of battlefields in both the Mortal Realms and the darkness of the far future, mighty warriors and blood-crazed lunatics in heavy armour of crimson and brass bellow a thunderous cry in Khorne’s name, “Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!” Cities crumble and nations burn for the glory of Khorne, the skulls of their mightiest warriors are laid at the feet of his throne; even where the armies of Khorne are vanquished the Blood God smiles, for Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows, only that it does.
Khorne is considered to be the oldest and most powerful of his brethren, having been born during the moments of the first murder committed by man, and fed by a galaxy of never-ending war. He is most commonly depicted as an inhumanly muscular man, hundreds of feet tall and clad in thick plate armour, a snarling canine face bellowing rage-filled commands from behind a mighty helm decorated with the skulls of fallen kings. Khorne’s domain within the Realm of Chaos is a blasted hellscape of crimson skies, earthquakes and molten blood, where daemons beyond count wage constant war for their master and mighty forges craft the greatest weapons and war machines in all reality. At the centre of this wasteland stands the Brass Citadel, from where Khorne reigns upon a mighty throne sat atop an ever-growing mountain of skulls.
Of the Chaos Gods, Khorne hates Slaanesh the most; the Dark Prince’s obsession with selfish hedonism and over-excessive debauchery is anathema to Khorne’s martial honour and militant discipline. It is perhaps then a great irony that Khorne rages at Slaanesh’s current absence in the Age of Sigmar, as Khorne believes that his sibling is the only truly worthy rival to his power. Khorne also holds a great deal of ire for Tzeentch, who’s teachings of sorcery, underhanded methods and complex schemes are considered dishonourable and cowardly by the God of War. It is also for this reason, and for usurping Slaanesh’s seat in the pantheon, that Khorne hates the Great Horned Rat. Simply put: Khorne hates everyone, but some he hates more than others.
Servants of the Blood God
Across the Mortal Realms and the grim darkness of the far future, all who take up arms against their enemies empower Khorne and give blessings upon his altar which is the battlefield. But some dedicate their lives and eternal souls to him in exchange for power and the chance at everlasting glory.
Angron – Daemon Primarch of the World Eaters, who devoted his legion to Khorne during the saga of the Horus Heresy. Angron was raised on the planet Nuceria as a slave, where his masters surgically implanted the Butcher’s Nails that Angron would later introduce to his legion; this device rewires the brain and replaces parts of it, causing the subject to feel intense pain when they experience anything other than anger. Angron would go on to lead a slave revolt against the lords of this planet, but was spared from a glorious death by the Emperor, an act Angron would never forgive. As a daemon prince, Angron has wrought a bloody toll upon the Imperium, especially in the first war of Armageddon where he was only defeated through the sacrifice of ninety of the hundred Grey Knights sent to the planet to save it.
Kharn the Betrayer – Mightiest mortal servant of Khorne in the 41st millennium, Kharn was once captain of the World Eater’s 8th company and equerry to Angron himself. After the heresy, however, Kharn earned his title at the Battle of Skalathrex, where he stalked the streets of a city in sub-zero temperatures with a flamethrower in hand, burning down shelters and slaughtering any who stood in his path be they fellow World Eaters or their enemies. Now Kharn wonders the galaxy, lending his axe to any World Eater conflict that is worthy of Khorne’s attention.
Valkia the Bloody – The Gorequeen is one of Khorne’s favoured champions in the Mortal Realms. Once a mighty chieftain dedicated to the Blood God, Valkia was betrayed by her kinsmen as they attempted to claim her skull to gain Khorne’s favour. Though she slew many of her tribe, eventually Valkia fell before their blades, but not for long. Khorne breathed new life into Valkia and reforged her into an image more to his liking. Valkia took her revenge upon her old tribe, and now she descends upon the bloodiest fields as Khorne’s Red Angel, and wherever she goes the Blood God’s gaze follows.
Skarbrand the Exile – Skarbrand was once the greatest of Khorne’s Bloodthirsters, a title that was noted by Tzeentch who whispered in the daemon’s ear and stoked his rage to greater heights. Skarbrand’s anger became so great that he was eventually driven to strike a blow against Khorne himself. An attack that could have levelled mountains only chipped the God’s armour, and in return Khorne choked out all reason and thought from Skarbrand’s mind, leaving only mindless hate. Khorne then hurled his favoured daemon from the summit of the Brass Citadel, tattering Skarbrand’s wings and exiling him forever. Such is Skarbrand’s rage that it infects those around him, driving his enemies to fall upon each other in a frenzy of bloodlust before the Bloodthirster even reaches them to cleave their skulls from their necks.
So why serve Khorne?
For the glory of combat, of course! Khorne’s armies are masters of combat, and few things will survive the charge of a squad of Berserkers or unit of Blood Warriors. But these armies are not mindless in how they work, and it will take a canny general to utilise the right auras and buffs at the right time to make the most out of their frothing murderers. The forces of Khorne are not particularly sturdy, however, so beware leaving your men exposed to the counter attack sure to follow. Don’t worry about it too much though, Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows, only that it does.
Join us next time as we continue to delve into the depths of madness and unravel the histories of the Ruinous Powers.
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