Varanguard
Warlords of incredible power and menace in their own right, the Varanguard have grown into creatures of immense cruelty over many lifetimes of merciless slaughter and conquest. Each individual Varanguard has led countless campaigns across numberless centuries, having risen through the ranks of Chaos upon a fountain of blood - they command the respect of mortal lords and kings, Daemon Princes and Daemon Kings, for when they ride into battle, it is at the bidding of the Everchosen alone. Their allegiance lies solely with Archaon, and the Three-Eyed King understands perfectly how to use their massive killing capacity. Where the Varanguard ride, subjugation follows.[1]
Becoming a member of the Varanguard
Only those deemed worthy by Archaon may serve within the Varanguard, for the Everchosen’s favour is reserved for the mightiest servants of Chaos. Thus are the ranks of the Varanguard drawn from all who serve the Dark Gods – howling berserkers, devious changesons, befouled plague-knights and paladins of pleasure, all striving for the chance to fight beside the greatest general the realms have even known.[2a]
Before a warrior may attempt to prove themselves worthy of the Varanguard, they must be summoned by a sign of Chaos. This omen can take many forms – perhaps the likeness of the Everchosen in the flames of a burning keep as its defenders scream for death, Archaon’s silhouette formed from a spray of arterial blood upon a carrion-littered battlefield, or the Everchosen’s name howled in unison by the plague-choked throats of a hundred corpses. When a warrior sees such a sign, there can be no mistaking that they have been called into Archaon’s service.[2a]
Almost all warriors heed the call to serve in the Varanguard. In that moment, when the will of the Everchosen is made clear to them, they cast off all former allegiances and begin a fell pilgrimage. It goes by many names – the Walk of Blades, the Dark Choosing and the Red Path, to name only a few – but it is without exception a long and brutal road. Before they may stand in the presence of Archaon, they must complete eight trials. These tasks vary with each aspirant, but all are harrowing and many do not survive them. When they finally ride before Archaon, if they are worthy, he will place them in one of the Eight Circles of the Varanguard, depending on the outcome of their trials.[2a]
The Eight Circles
- "Tell your daemon-spawn lord, Krangrath, that I do not care for his outbursts. The Blood God may be appeased by skulls, but the Everchosen demands obedience. Tell him that if he does not immediately deploy his armies to the Cinderbite Expanse, I will personally nail his wings to the Varanspire and take his horns as a trophy, meagre as they are."
- - Thaddorn Soulspear of the Bane Sons[2e]
Of the thousands of Varanguard who serve Archaon, only a small percentage are chosen to ride within the First Circle of his retinue, the dreaded Swords of Chaos, and thus stand closest to their lord in battle. More likely, a Varanguard will find himself fighting among one of the other seven circles, such as the Scourges of Fate or the Blades of Desolation. These circles are no less terrifying than the First, however, as each has its own crucial role to fulfil in Archaon’s realm-spanning strategies. Whether Third Circle or Eighth, all Varanguard stand equal beneath the pitiless might of the Everchosen himself.[2a]
First Circle
The Swords of Chaos, First Circle of the Varanguard, ride into battle at the side of the Everchosen himself as his dark champions and brutal executors of his will. They are Archaon’s martial right hand, chosen to ride into battle alongside him whenever he takes to the field. Their black and gold regalia reflect their dark lord’s countenance and speaks to the honour of their position.[2a][2b]
Second Circle
Torture and fear are the meat and drink of the Souls of Torment, Second Circle of the Varanguard. They are the slayers of hope and the bringers of despair. They are used by Archaon to spread terror and disorder before the advancing hosts of Chaos. These grim warriors revel in the art of death, leaving behind grisly trophies of their kills. Such is the horror that their brutal practices evoke that many armies flee rather than face them in battle.[2b]
They aided Clepsyrian's search for Slaanesh, forging a path of ruin across the Mortal Realms.[2g]
Third Circle
Shadows disgorge the Scions of Darkness, the dreaded Third Circle. Their black-souled riders are as the night given form and deadly purpose.[2b]
Fourth Circle
Burning nations and tortured peoples are reflected in the cruel helms of the Reavers of Chaos, Fourth Circle of the Varanguard and merciless pillagers of the realms.[2b]
Fifth Circle
The heads of kings and emperors hang from the saddles of the Scourges of Fate, Fifth Circle of the Varanguard, for no quarry has ever escaped their blades. No hidden fastness, towering bastion, nor enchanted gate can offer refuge from these deadly huntsmen. When Archaon singles out a target for annihilation, the Scourges of Fate will not return to their master until the object of his wrath has met its end.[2b]
Sixth Circle
Fortresses crumble and armies scatter before the charge of the Blades of Desolation, Archaon’s hell-forged hammer which he wields to break the realms asunder.[2b]
Seventh Circle
The Bane Sons, Seventh Circle of the Varanguard, hold that Chaos grows stronger as it feasts upon itself, and so consume the flesh of enemies and allies alike.[2b]
Eighth Circle
Archaon alone knows the name of the Eighth Circle of the Varanguard, and no man, monster or civilisation to have felt their wrath has ever lived to tell the tale. Even amongst the Varanguard, the reputation of these ruthless warriors precedes them. When the Eighth ride out, no bodies nor ruins are left in their passing, no signs of life at all. Only dust.[2b]
Ranks of the Varanguard
Master
Those who lead a circle of the Varanguard are granted the title Master. They are also known as Marshal. They are commanders without equal and warriors without peer.[4b]
Knight Templar
Leads a Konroi of Varanguard Knights. Mentors Black Pilgrims in order to rise in standing.[4b]
Knight
A Knight of Ruin, one who has slain countless civilizations in the name of the Dark Gods and has completed the eight trials.[2a]
Black Pilgrim
One seeking to become a Varanguard and is on his required eight trials. Is still a fierce opponent and has countless dead to his name.[4a]
Combat
The Varanguard are sinister knights who represent the wrath of the Dark Gods united and charge like an avalanche of Chaos-forged steel upon their foes. They are relentless butchers who have killed without mercy on battlefields all across the Mortal Realms. This persistence allows them to attack more times than one would expect. Not only that but should Archaon be fighting alongside them they become even more formidable in combat, as they are inspired by the presence of their dark master.[1][6a][6b]
Mount
The Varanguard ride atop hulking Steeds of Chaos, described as twisted mockeries of a mortal horse, clad in baroque barding. These mutated steeds can attack with their hell-shod hooves, their jagged, tearing Fangs and ripping claws.[1][6a][6b]
Wargear
Varanguard can wield Ensorcelled Weapon, Fellspears and Daemonforge Blades into battle. Ensorcelled Weapons can come in the form of axes and hammers. Fellspears are lancing weapons with vicious points, used by the Varanguard to impale and skewer their foes while charging. Daemonforged Blade are weapons with the essence of a Daemon bound within it. When a Varanguard guard attacks with it, it can awaken the Daemon within it which can swiftly devour the soul of those struck with it, though sometimes the daemon will turn on its wielder.[1][6a][6b]
These weapons are paired with blasphemous Warpsteel Shields, which can protect them from the most potent magical attacks, allowing them to ignore the effects of spells, whatever they come from a Wizard or an Endless Spell.[1][6a][6b]
These knights go to battle clad with ornate plate armour.[1]
Mark of Chaos
Members of the Varanguard can have the following Marks of Chaos:
- Mark of Khorne[6b]
- Mark of Nurgle[6b]
- Mark of Slaanesh[6b]
- Mark of Tzeentch[6b]
- Mark of Chaos Undivided[6b]
Additionally, Archaon has the ability to bestow on members of the Varanguard a similar effect to that of a god-aligned Mark of Chaos, which he can replace with another at will.[6a]
Notable members of the Varanguard
| Name | Circle | Rank | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorgore the Cruel | First Circle | He is a favoured amongst the Varanguard and an Anointed Knight of the Dark Gods. | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - The Knights of Ruin, pg. 26 | |
| Kulgar Rhorgh | First Circle | Was raised to daemonhood by Khorne. | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - The March of Chaos, pg. 31 | |
| Harradroth Gorehammer | First Circle | A former Khornate who pledged his loyalty to Archaon. | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - War of the Spider empire, pg. 73 | |
| Kugorus Darkblood | First Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Urgrun Heartripper | First Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Corvak Skullsplitter | First Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Kasgor Sturngar | First Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Baelthor the Broken | First Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Slebb Runnelgut | First Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Laelshy the Depraved | Second Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Fyrgorn Draks | Second Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Grulgharr the Septicum | Third Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Corlak Shiverblade | Third Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Lord Neveroth | Fifth Circle | Master | Scourge of Fate - Part Three | |
| Vanik Stormstrike | Fifth Circle | Scourge of Fate - Part Fifteen | ||
| Karex Daemonflayer | Fifth Circle | Knight Templar | Scourge of Fate - Part Three | |
| Zubaz | Fifth Circle | Knight Templar | Scourge of Fate - Part Three | |
| Skoren Blackhand | Initiate | Black Pilgrim | Scourge of Fate - Part Three | |
| Zultor Balefire | Fifth Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Xyr Wyrdbane | Fifth Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Rorgor Blooddrinker | Sixth Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Gramm Headtaker | Sixth Circle | Battletome: Everchosen (2015) - Archaons Blades, pg. 42-45 | ||
| Lord Arken | Seventh Circle | Master | Scourge of Fate - Part Three | |
| Sir Caradoc | Seventh Circle | Knight Templar | Scourge of Fate - Part Three | |
| Thaddorn Soulspear | Seventh Circle | The Varanguard, pg. 37 | ||
| Orphaeo Zuvius | Unknown | Call of Archaon - See no Evil | ||
| Espa Erezavant | Unknown | Call of Archaon - See no Evil | ||
| Zorn the Blazenfreshed | Unknown | Call of Archaon - See no Evil | ||
| Sarsael Hedra | Unknown | Call of Archaon - See no Evil | ||
| Kadence Salivarr | Unknown | Call of Archaon - See no Evil | ||
| Vomitus Grue | Unknown | Call of Archaon - See no Evil |
Images
Three Varanguard miniatures.
Sources
- 1: Varanguard product description
- 2: Battletome: Everchosen (2015)
- 3: The Realmgate Wars: Godbeasts, Siege of the Crescent Isle, pg. 135
- 4: Scourge of Fate
- 5: Call of Archaon - See no Evil
- 6: Warscroll