Chaos Lord
Chaos Lords are the masters and champions of the Slaves to Darkness hordes and warbands, standing only a step away from eternal glory or eternal damnation. The knowledge that the eyes of the Dark gods are upon them, gives them determination to prove their might to them.
Contents
Promotion
Most rise to rulership of their people by skill and strength. Many hordes contain numerous exemplars favoured enough to be considered Chaos Lords that are in constant competition with their rivals to achieve the position of Godsworn Overlord, and the divine favour that accompanies it.[1]
Abilities
In order to maintain their position in the eyes of the gods, Chaos Lords constantly perform great deeds, the dark rewards they have gained in their life ensures that a Chaos Lord is far stronger and swifter than a normal man while the hard-won experience has honed their skills to a razor edge. When challenged they will even stand in the path of a frenzied troggoth or duel with daemonic champions in return for power or knowledge, putting their very souls on the line.[1] The gods even heal the wounds of Chaos Lords with each success or are sustained by the act of killing alone.[2b][2e]
Mounts
Chaos Lords may ride upon a variety of deadly mounts. Those who particularly impress the gods may find themselves bequeathed a Daemonic Mount. These may take any shape ranging from iron-scaled serpents to huge flame-snorting destriers. Such strong-willed and vicious beasts pose a constant threat to their master, but this is considered just one more challenge a Chaos Lord must overcome to prove their worth. Such lords usually become the rulers of feared cavalry warband.[1][2e]
Some prefer more natural but deadly creatures known as a Karkadraks, reptilian brutes with scales are as hard as rock that can be further bolstered by plates of hellforged iron etched in runes that project an aura of fell magic while the its tearing horn could defeat any armour. Their rampages are known for being almost impossible to stop and only a Lord who can halt the creature's deadly momentum can force the Karkadrak to submit to them.[1][2g]
Even more ferocious is the Manticore, leonine creatures so thoroughly suffused with the power of Chaos that their only true point of commonality is sheer fury. Most Chaos Lords who attempt to dominate a Manticore end up being shredded to pieces but a rare few succeed in battling the creature to a standstill and proving themselves the apex predator. These iron-willed warlords can ride these berserk killers that intimidates even their own warbands into unquestionably following his order.[1][2f]
Transformation
Chaos Lord have walked the Path to Glory are always just one step from ascending into Daemon Prince with each success, or becoming a Chaos Spawn with each failure.[2a][2d]
Wargear
Chaos Lords wield daemon-possessed weapons that contain the bound essence of daemons that rage at their confinement and attempt to slip free of their bounds. But their destructive power means most Chaos Lords are willing to risk their wrath by unleashing the fury inside it and allowing it to devour an enemy's soul.[1][2a][2d]
Many wield Chaos Runeshields, shields inscribed with dark runes that protect the wielder from even the most powerful attacks.[2e][2f] They are clad in rich furs and baroque armours decorated with spiked surfaces, serrated plates, distressed mouths and the 8-pointed star.[3][4]
Chaos Lords on foot usually wield Daemon-possessed Reaperblades paired with a Chaos Swords or Daemonbound Steels, or a massive Daemonbound War-flails.[2a][2d]
Those mounted on Daemonic Mounts usually wield a Cursed Warhammers, malevolent weapons that blast apart those that it strikes with unholy power, paired with a Chaos Runeshields.[2b][2e]
Those mounted on Manticores usually wield Daemon Blades or Chaos Flails paired with a Chaos Lances, Chaos Runeshields or Daggerfists, bladed gauntlets that allow the wielder to easily counter enemy blows in close quarters.[2c][2f]
Those mounted on Karkadraks favour Hexed Battle-axes and Daemonbound Blades.[2g]
Mark of Chaos
Chaos Lords can have the following Marks of Chaos:
- Mark of Khorne[2a][2b][2c][2d][2e][2f][2g]
- Mark of Nurgle[2a][2b][2c][2d][2e][2f][2g]
- Mark of Slaanesh[2a][2b][2c][2d][2e][2f][2g]
- Mark of Tzeentch[2a][2b][2c][2d][2e][2f][2g]
- Mark of Chaos Undivided[2d][2e][2f][2g]
Notable
- Red Cowl
- Morlarr Shrike
- Feargor
- Thur
- Lascilion
- Hulmean
- Chaell
- Lemerus
- Etax
- Bakhos
- Moeraix
- Maerac of Manticorea
Miniatures
Chaos Lord wielding a Daemon-possessed Reaperblade with a Daemonbound Steel.
Chaos Lord with the Mark of Khorne.
Chaos Lord with the Mark of Nurgle.
Chaos Lord with the Mark of Slaanesh.
Chaos Lord with the Mark of Tzeentch paired with a Chaos Familiar.
Chaos Lord wielding a Daemonbound War-flail.
Chaos Lord wielding a sword and shield.
Chaos Lord mounted on a Daemonic Mount.
3rd Ed Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount
Chaos Lord mounted on a Karkadrak.
Chaos Lord mounted on a Manticore.
Sources
- 1: Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (2019) - Warlords of the Dark Tribes, pg. 30-31
- 2: Warscrolls
- 2a: Lord of Chaos from Grand Alliance: Chaos
- 2b: Lord on Daemonic Mount from Grand Alliance: Chaos
- 2c: Chaos Lord on Manticore from Grand Alliance: Chaos
- 2d: Chaos Lord from Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (2019)
- 2e: Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount from Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (2019)
- 2f: Chaos Lord on Manticore from Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (2019)
- 2g: Chaos Lord on Karkadrak from Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (2019)
- 3: Chaos Lord product description
- 4: Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount product description
