Khorne's History
Khorne, also known as the "Blood God," the "Lord of Murder", the "Lord of Skulls," "Hunter of Souls," and "the Hound" in Norsca, is the major Chaos God of war, hatred, wrath, rage, murder, blood, strength, courage and martial honour.
Khorne is the second eldest of the major Ruinous Powers and his waxing strength in this time of constant conflict often renders him the mightiest of the Chaos Gods in his effect on the mortal world and in the Great Game between the gods. His domain encompasses the most basic and brutal of sentient emotions -- hate, anger, rage, the desire for destruction and the joy of killing one's enemies. Every act of killing or murder in the mortal world feeds and empowers Khorne; the more senseless, vicious and bloodthirsty, the better.
Khorne is the most violent and destructive of the four major Chaos Gods. He represents unrestrained aggression, mindless frenzy, and bloodshed on the battlefield. His lust for blood is unquenchable, and he is forever goading his followers to take up arms and murder in his name. Khorne's anger and violence is an unbridled force that targets both friends and foes alike. He watches scenes of barbarism and slaughter with delight, and it is said he sounds his horn across the Chaos Wastes to incite further frenzy. During times of utter destruction and murder, Khorne's bellows resound in the Chaos Wastes, causing madness in any that might hear. Of all the Ruinous Powers, Khorne is the biggest instigator of war and destruction, constantly whipping up his followers to lay siege on the cities, towns, and hamlets of the Old World.
However, though Khorne is the god of bloody slaughter, he is also the god of martial pride and honour, of those who set themselves against the most dangerous foes and earn victory against the odds.[3g] His warriors, though gore-maddened berserkers all, take no artful approach to killing, for such indulgent displays serve only to empower Slaanesh, the honourless adversary of Khorne amongst the company of the Chaos Gods.
Khorne is known by a thousand, thousand names in the northern lands of the Chaos Wastes. He is called "Kharneth," "Akhar," "Kjorn," "Khorgar," the "Axefather," the "Bloodfather," the "Wolf-Father," the "Bloodwolf," and yet other uncounted multitudes of titles and aspects. The Blood God is worshipped by almost every tribe of Men in the Northern Wastes, for the Northmen are warrior-peoples who exalt in the contest of arms, particularly those of Norsca, who most eagerly of all embrace Khorne's call to eternal warfare.
A man that has put his faith in Khorne, however, is just as likely to be a blood-crazed killer as he is an honourable warrior, and oftentimes he will be both at the same time. Khorne, like all the Chaos Gods, has two sides, for he is the embodiment of martial honour and courage, said to smile upon all feats of valour, strength, and blood-drenched warrior skill. Yet Khorne is also the divine patron of proud warriors who set themselves against the odds and emerge triumphant through the display of savagery, murderous wrath and unending bloodlust.
Khorne is said to exalt the brave of both sides of a battle, while at the same time laying his terrible vengeance upon the cowardly and craven. According to the warrior-code of his devotees, it is the solemn right of every warrior to die an honourable death in battle, with sword and axe in hand.
It is not uncommon to see Khornate Chaos Warriors and Champions of Khorne fighting amongst themselves, duelling to the death to prove their skill in combat and rise higher in the eyes of their lord. Khorne ultimately cares not from where the blood flows and the skulls are taken, only that such acts are done in his name. Only bloodletting through physical combat is acceptable however, for Khorne disdains the use of all magic. None of his followers are permitted to be sorcerers, although some will carry magic-imbued weapons or armour in order to augment their killing ability.
All of Khorne's Daemons are built to kill quickly and efficiently. While the troops of the other Ruinous Powers may fall back to recover or bring other talents into play, the Daemons of Khorne always fight to the death. Cursing their enemies, their mounds of sinewy muscle carving their last steps through the front lines, Khorne's Daemons continue to spill blood and claim skulls until the last roar of defiance and rage from their gaping maws has been silenced. Then their bodies, further sacrifices to the lord they served so faithfully, are crushed to dust and ash by the next wave of his blood-crazed troops, all screaming endlessly "Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Throne of Khorne!" as they pour into glorious combat.
Worshippers of Khorne include Chaos Warriors, psychotics, and berserkers. Many are sometimes drawn to his promises of bloodletting. As noted, many tribes in Norsca have been converted to his call of eternal warfare and spend their days raiding villages along the coasts of the Old World. On occasion, a warrior caught up in the frenzy of battle hears the chant of Khorne in his ears and is driven to madness, forever pledging his service as he covers himself in the blood of the fallen. Horrified companions usually kill these rare aberrations, but some slip away, making their way to the Chaos Wastes to join Khorne's horde.
