Khorne
 | |
| Titles | Axefather Blood God [5a] Brass Lord [5a] The Maker Huntsman of Souls Skull Lord [5a] |
| Status | Active |
| Type | Chaos God |
| Domains | Hate Rage Anger Violence Warfare Bloodshed Reckless/Indiscriminate Killing Slaughter Murder |
| Home | Brass Citadel, Realm of Chaos |
| Affiliation | Beastmen Daemons of Chaos Norsca Warriors of Chaos |
| Followers | Cult of Khorne |
| Adjectives | Khornate |
| Symbols | Skull 8 Brass Bronze Red Black |
| Enemies | Slaanesh |
|
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Khorne is the Chaos God of hate, rage and bloodshed. Every act of killing gives Khorne power; the more senseless and destructive, the better. Among the four great powers, Khorne is the most powerful of them all.
Contents
Attributes
- Power source: Rage, anger, hatred
- Traits: Warrior, axes, red, fire, blood, lava, skulls, brass/bronze
- Sacred number: VIII (8)
- Opposing God: Slaanesh
Appearance
For a mortal to gaze upon Khorne would be to perish, but scholars and writers who dare such things have suggested that he resembles Bloodthirster, only far larger and more terrifying. He sits upon his throne, encased in his brass armour, impervious to any blow and clutching his continent destroying sword, his dog like face snarling and his eyes full of unquenchable fury. Prowling around the throne room are his favoured Flesh Hounds. [4a]
His throne rests upon a massive mountain of skulls, claimed by his champions and the vast throne room sits atop a vast brass tower, supported by eight columns of the same metal. All around it for many leagues are forges and armouries whilst a molten moat is filled with the screaming souls of his enemies. [4a]
Overview
Khorne is the power of Chaos in its most violent and senseless aspect, a violence driven only by hatred and rage, and destroying friend and foe alike.
Khorne himself is seen as a mighty being of titanic size, clad in armour, and sitting atop a mighty and weirdly carved throne of brass worked in skulls, which itself is held aloft by a mountain of skulls standing in a sea of blood - the remains of his followers who have died in battle and all those they have slain.
As with his fellow Chaos gods, Khorne appears to be linked with an aspect of the sentient mind; in his case, it appears to be anger. This is probably the root of Khorne's dominant position in the pantheon, as such factious places as the Warhammer world would doubtless provide much sustenance for him.
The battle cry of the followers of Khorne reflects his desire for wanton violence: Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne! [4a]
He is disdainful of magic, bloodletting must be caused by physical conflict and he does not permit sorcerers to become champions, although they may wield magical weapons or wear magical armour. [4a]
Prounciation
Khorne is pronuced Korn. [1]
Symbol
Khorne's symbol is a stylized skull rune. His sacred colors are red, black and brass - respectively, the colors of blood, death and Khorne's own armor. His sacred number is eight. All of this symbolism is represented in the dress, armor and organization of his followers.[1]
Rivals
Khorne's foremost rival is Slaanesh, the two gods' powers coming from two diametrically opposed concepts. Khorne demands self-sacrifice and bloodshed for its own sake, whereas Slaanesh embodies self-indulgence, and bloodshed is merely one of a multitude of ways of exploring new experiences. Slaanesh seeks to draw followers in, ingratiating them slowly as their taste for pleasure or pain becomes harder and harder to satiate, requiring more and more in order to feel anything at all. The Blood God has no time for pleasure or eroticism; for him all feelings are wasted except rage, hate and vengeance. [4a]
However, it must be noted that Khorne's followers do not act in order to cause pain because pain, as a counterpart of pleasure, is the domain of Slaanesh. [4a] Instead, while the followers of Khorne may express Khorne's rage, they wish only to kill so that the blood and skulls of their victims strengthen Khorne. The fact that the suffering and excess of this conflict also strengthens Slaanesh has been reported as further reason for conflict between Khorne and Slaanesh.
Nurgle is considered abhorrent as he sits and waits amongst his filth and disease, Khorne revels in direct action and this passive approach is totally at odds with the Blood God’s principles. In turn, Nurgle believes that his goals will be achieved best through the building and careful stewardship of his blessings, whereas Khorne only cares for destruction. [4a]
Tzeentch plays tricks upon Khorne for his own amusement, which the Blood God responds to in the only way he knows how: violence. The Changer of Ways is also the greatest source of magic amongst the powers of Chaos and Khorne does not look kindly upon this truth. [4a]
Worship and followers
Khorne's followers may be found amongst the ranks of the Chaos Marauders, Chaos Warriors and Chaos Knights as well as amongst the ranks of the Beastmen. Bestigors dedicated to the bloody service of Khorne are called Khorngors.
Khorne has no temples, as he is worshiped only on the battlefield, and the act of bloodshed is the only way to worship Khorne. A follower wasting time building a temple to Khorne would more likely attract the god's wrath than his pleasure. Worship of Khorne requires a life devoted entirely and selflessly to constant bloodshed. No follower lets a day pass without engaging in the bloody and enraged slaughter by which Khorne is worshipped.
Khorne despises sorcery, and the slaughter of sorcerers is greatly welcomed by Khorne.
Cult of Khorne
All of the cults dedicated to Khorne are also warbands and can only be found outside the centers of civilization, in the deep wildernesses that putatively lie within the borders of civilized nations.
Notable cults of Khorne include the Cult of the Brass Skull that appeared in Middenheim in the aftermath of the Storm of Chaos which may be linked to the Cult of the Crimson Skull which had infiltrated Imperial military organisations before the Storm of Chaos, and the Disciples of the Red Redemption, that were formed in Estalia during the crusades against Araby.
Other Names
- Arkhar: Norscan God of Battle. [5a] with the Draghar worshiping him under this name. [6a]
- Kharnath: Norscan God of Battle and Blood. [5a]
Daemons of Khorne
- Bloodthirsters are the Greater Daemons of Khorne. Of all the Daemons, they bear the greatest resemblance to the archetypal demon, having a human body, cloven hooves instead of feet, leathery bat-like wings and horned dogs-heads. An earlier model of the Bloodthirster replaced the dog head with an ugly human face, but recently the model has gone back to its canine-featured roots. They wield a fiery whip and a massive two-headed battleaxe (possessed by another Bloodthirster in earlier editions) simultaneously in battle. They are the most combative of all Daemons and arguably the mightiest of all troop types available.
- Bloodletters, are hideous, horned humanoids with cloven hooves who tote blood-drinking battleaxes and wear armour of daemonic brass. They enter horrific frenzies in battle.
- Flesh Hounds, are monstrous and ferocious vaguely canine creatures, notorious for their ability to track down their chosen prey. They bear enchanted collars that make them highly resistant to magic or psychic influences.
- Bloodbeasts of Khorne are a daemonic type of Chaos Spawn that are essentially unruly masses of muscle and tendon. Bloodbeasts have all Khornate aspects of a battle-maddened creature living only to take the lives of others and reap skulls in the name of the Blood God. Brimming with this mindless frenzy, a Bloodbeast will charge headlong into the forefront of any battle, not caring whom or what it is engaged with.[2]
- Juggernauts of Khorne are particularly favoured by champions to ride on; massive steeds made of living metal whose blood is liquid fire.
- Bloodcrushers are Bloodletters mounted atop Juggernauts.
- Chariots of Khorne are chariots pulled by a Juggernaut, or sometimes two, ridden by either two Bloodletters or a herald of Khorne.
Gallery
Khorne
Khorne
Bloodthirster
Flesh Hound
Champion of Khorne
Warrior of Khorne
Altar of the Cult of the Crimson Skull
Miniatures
Chaos Warriors of Khorne
Champion of Khorne
Bloodthirster
Sources
- 1:Brunton, Mike; and Ansell, Bryan (1988), Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness
- 2: Liber Chaotica (2006) by Marijan von Staufer and Richard Williams, Needs Citation
- 3: White Dwarf Vol 3 No 40 Worlds of Warhammer, pg. 9
- 4: Liber Carnagia
- 4a: Khorne the Blood God, pg. 3-6
- 5: Tome of Salvation
- 5a: Chapter 5: The Dark Gods, pg. 135
- 6: White Dwarf 290 (UK)
- 6a: Old Weirde's Incunabulum, pg. 50
Uncited
- Warhammer Armies: Chaos (4th Edition), Needs Citation
- Warhammer Armies: Realm of Chaos (5th Edition), Needs Citation
- Warhammer Armies: Champions of Chaos (5th Edition), Needs Citation
- Warhammer Armies: Hordes of Chaos (6th Edition), Needs Citation
- Warhammer Armies: Beasts of Chaos (6th Edition), Needs Citation
- Warhammer: Storm of Chaos, Needs Citation
- Ashes of Middenheim - WFRP2 Campaign, Needs Citation
- Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (7th Edition), Needs Citation
