Tzeentch
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| Titles | Changer of Ways the Dark Lord Great Conspirator Great Mutator Great Sorcerer Lord of the Fifteen Devils Master of the Five Elements Weaver of All Fates |
| Status | Active |
| Type | Chaos God |
| Domains | Magic Hope Ambition Scheming Plotting Change Hubris Magic Mutation Prophecy Fate Unpredictability |
| Aspects | Tchar[4c] Tsien-Tsin[3a] |
| Home | Impossible Fortress |
| Affiliation | Beastmen Daemons of Chaos Norsca Warriors of Chaos |
| Followers | Cult of Tzeentch |
| Adjectives | Tzeentchian |
| Symbols | Vulture Raven Fire 9 |
| Enemies | Nurgle |
Tzeentch, the Changer of the Ways, is one of the four Great Chaos Gods and represents the vitality and volatility of change.
Contents
Overview
Tzeentch is closely associated with sorcery and magic, as well as dynamic mutation, and grand, convoluted schemes. It is said that Tzeentch knows the fate of everything, and all events transpire according to some great plan beyond mortal reckoning. The mortal champions of Tzeentch are especially dangerous, as they wield awesome sorcerous power on top of their considerable physical prowess.
All Chaos Gods derive their power from essential and driving aspects of mortal nature. In Tzeentch's case, this is the will and desire for change. The desire to accumulate forbidden lore, change and manipulate our surroundings, as well as intrigue, evolution, and sorcery; these are the tools used to enact change, benevolent or malevolent. Through subtle manipulation and the use of sorcery, Tzeentch's followers further the aims of their patron. His diametric opposition is Nurgle. Where Tzeentch's power is derived from the will to change and to forge one's destiny, Nurgle's comes from the defiance of despair and the inevitable decay of all things.
Tzeentch is often visualised as the serpent that writhes and twists to represent constant change, or as a large bird with feathers of everchanging colour.
His sacred number is Nine and his opposing god is Nurgle.
History
Northern Shamans claim that when Chaos entered the world, Tzeentch was the most powerful of the four great powers but the other three joined against him, deposing him in vast battle in the Realm of Chaos. They then hurled him from a mountain peak, shattering him into ten thousand pieces that became all the spells that are used by Wizards. [4b] His essence retreated to the Realm of Chaos and the Impossible Fortress. [5a]
Mortal followers
Many worshippers of Tzeentch are sorcerers, who are also among the most ambitious and the most hungry for power. Scholars and other educated elites who desire unearthly knowledge and power are often drawn to the service of Tzeentch. The cults of Tzeentch are easily the widespread and firmly established of all the Chaos cults in The Empire, and all are devoted to its subversion and overthrow. One of the largest of these cults is the Purple Hand.[1] His worship elsewhere is widespread and found in far Cathay.[4a]
Northmen warriors in the northern Chaos Wastes tend to wear elaborate mask helmets that conceal their faces to their opponents and are renowned schemers amongst the other people of the northern tribes. All Champions of Tzeench become at least powerful wizards, that learn to use the Winds of Magic.
Beastmen that are dedicated to Tzeentch are also not unknown, and his special breed of Bestigors are called Tzaangors.
Daemons
Tzeentchian daemons tend to be bird-like in appearance, or mutated to the point of indescribability.
Horrors are the most prolific Daemon, an ever-shifting mass of flesh, limbs, and flame-spewing orifices. Original Horrors are described as short neck-less creature with long, multi-jointed arms. Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned originally had two types of Horrors, Pink and Blue variants. Pink Horrors were jovial and childish, and when slain they would split into two smaller Blue Horrors, which were angry and sullen spirited.
Flamers are slightly more powerful, with numerous gaping maws that produce the searing flames which give these daemons their unsubtle name. Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned described them as inverted mushrooms, with a trunk that split into two arms.
Screamers are ray-like creatures that swoop down on foes and cut them apart with their sharp tusks, but prefer to emit an unholy scream, that damages and terrifies most mortals.
Lords of Change are the most powerful Tzeentchian Daemon, typically an avian, winged humanoid Daemon of vast intelligence and massive magical and psychic power. They are described as large winged creature bipedal creatures with snake-like necks and avian heads. The creatures often are multi-colored (especially their wings).
Discs of Tzeentch are melds of magic, metal, and daemon, and are often used as transports for mortal champions. Various descriptions and models have been created, varying from metal surfboard looking creatures4 to the spiked organic variants of today.
Changebringers are Flamers mounted on Discs of Tzeentch.
Chariots of Tzeentch are flying chariots pulled by Screamers of Tzeentch.
Pronunciation
Tzeentch is pronounced Tseench, Tz as end of the word Sits, ntch as the end of the word crunch [2]
Rivals
It is said that Tzeentch considers Khorne unsophisticated and enjoys baiting him but is apprehensive of the sybaritic Slaanesh. Nurgle is his enemy and he feels nothing but comtempt for him with schemes invariably undermining the Lord of Decay's own plans. [4b]
Many names in many nations
- Tchar: He is so named by the Kurgan. [4c]
- Tsien-Tsin: In Cathay, Tzeentch is known as Tsien-tsin, Lord of the Fifteen Devils, Master of the Five Elements, the Dark Lord. [3a]
Gallery
Tzeentch the Changer of Ways
Tzeentch the Great Mutator
Tzeentch the Great Sorcerer
A Warband of Tzeentch
Lord of Change
Pink Horror
Sources
- 1: The Enemy Within (1986), pgs. 22-23
- 2: White Dwarf Vol 3 No 40 Worlds of Warhammer, pg. 9
- 3: Silver Nails: Red Thirst (short story)
- 3a: pg. 19
- 4: Liber Mutatis
- 5: Winds of Magic (book)
- 5a: Tales of Sorcery, pg. 6
Uncited
- Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned, 1990
- Warhammer Armies: Chaos (4th Edition)
- Warhammer Armies: Realm of Chaos (5th Edition)
- Warhammer Armies: Champions of Chaos (5th Edition)
- Warhammer Armies: Hordes of Chaos (6th Edition)
- Warhammer: Storm of Chaos
- Warhammer Armies: Daemons of Chaos (7th Edition)
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