Khaine
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| Titles | The Bloody Handed[1a] Lord of Murder[1a] |
| Status | Active |
| Type | Elf God[1a] Cytharai |
| Domains | Bloodshed[1a] Warfare[1a] Murder |
| Aspects | Deathbringer[1b] Iron Panther [1b] |
| Relatives | Anath Raema(sister) |
| Affiliation | Dark Elves[1a] High Elves |
| Followers | Cult of Khaine Disciple of Khaine |
Khaela Mensha Khaine, The Bloody Handed, also known as The Lord of Murder is the Elven God of warfare and bloodshed. He is venerated most highly by the Druchii (Dark Elves). [1a]
Contents
Description
High Elves venerate Khaine as their war god, and though they respect his power they are also mindful that the sword of Khaine cuts both ways. It was the Sword of Khaine, the personification of bloodshed and violence, that drove Aenarion, first Phoenix King of the High Elves mad after he drew it and used it to defeat Daemons that were invading Ulthuan.
History
Hekarti and Vaul created eight rings of power for him, each gathering one of the Winds of Magic, but also informed Atharti of the gods new treasure and who attempted to seduce them away from him. Eventually, she resorted to violence and during the conflict, the rings were lost into the material world. [2a]
Khaine battled Slaanesh in Elf myths. [3a]
The goddess Lileath asked the Smith god Vaul to craft her a gift to show her love for the Hunter god Kurnous. However, Khaine learned of the gift and intercepted Vaul, demanding that he be given the Moonbow into which Lileath had poured her love and soul. He threatened to torture Vaul if he was not given the bow, but the smith gave it to the goddess Isha who proclaimed that none save Kurnous would ever find the bow and she cast it down from the heavens. [4a]
Worship
Dark Elves
Khaine is openly worshiped by the Dark Elves not as a god of war, but as a god of murder. This suits the harsh society of the Dark Elves, who view any sign of weakness as a fatal flaw. Holidays dedicated to Khaine invariably involve killing, such as the Harvest of Souls and Death Night. Fueled by the social Darwinism of Dark Elf culture, devotees of Khaine elevate killing to an art form and will gladly kill anyone - friend or foe - who displays vulnerability. The Cult of Khaine is the most powerful religion in Naggaroth.
The great temple of Khaine is located in the city of Har Ganeth. It is a seat of great power, as the worship of Khaine is by far the most popular and powerful religion in Naggaroth. Hellebron is his high priestess but her authority is challenged by Morathi.
High Elves
As a god of War, many High Elves marching to war whisper invocations to Khaine, praying he will guide their weapons. [3a]
Humans
Some humans also worship an aspect of Khaine as purely a god of murder, their sacrifices are primitive compared to the perfected, elegant acts of the Dark Elves. [3a]
The Disciples of Khaine were members of a small and elite cult dedicated to the God of Murder.
See also
- Cult of Khaine
- Khaine (Old World): Khaine as worshiped by humans of the Old World.[3a]
Gallery
A statue of the Lord of Murder
Another depiction of the Bloody Handed God.
Dark Elf Pantheonic Mandala with Khaine at the centre
Miniatures
Statue of Khaine
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
- 2a: Vaul's Forge, pg. 64
- 3: Tome of Salvation
- 3a: Chapter 5: Other Gods, pg. 131
- 4: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Shadow King (Novel) by Gav Thorpe
- 4a: Nineteen: Child of the Wolf and the Moon, pg. 607
Unsourced
