Khorne

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BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE! - The Chant of Khorne

Introduction

Khorne, also known as Kharnath, Arkhar, Khorgar, Kjorn, Khar, the Bloody Handed, the Axefather, the Bloodwolf, the Wolf-Father and 8790 other names, is the Chaos God of war, rage, wrath, battle, martial honour and excellence at arms. He is commonly held to be the strongest Chaos God by default, and is associated with wolves and powerful hunting dogs, as well as lions and bulls. For another reason that is likely inspired by occultism, Khorne's sacred number is eight - and thus, his followers tend to organize themselves into groups of eights and its multiples. Fun fact, this also means that the names of Khornate daemons are usually comprised of eight syllables.

Khorne, by virtue of being the most powerful Chaos God, is also the most powerful general divinity in both iterations of Warhammer. In both versions of Warhammer, his followers are characterized by an overbearing need to spill blood and engage in honest battle, as well as a violent code of martial honour and an 'only the strong survive' approach to morality. They tend to be dutiful, as well.

Khorne also has the distinction of being the only Chaos God whose word you can take at face value. Many smarmy 40K fags just getting into the hobby belive him and his followers to be dim; but they don't realize that disdain for scheming and backstabbing isn't the same as being stupid. Nor do they realize that overcomplicating things is actually the worst thing a planner can do. Any plan that relies on more than one variable to succeed (ie: the vast majority of Tzeentch plots) is almost doomed to fail. So you actually want results? Be practical. Involve only as many steps as you need (IE: Sharp implement to the face repeatedly))

Appearance

Khorne is described as resembling a giant, iron thewed warrior clad in red armour, with a massive battle-axe and a winged helm that conceals a snarling face like that of a wolf.

Of course, most artists at GW forget that he's supposed to look a giant Chaos Warrior and instead make him look like an overgrown Bloodthirster on a chair. A chair from which he often gazes down on his followers fighting and making merry and quaffing blood-mead like a certain war-god venerated by a race of tall, powerfully built, war-loving white people who dwell in an icy land north and east of the British Isles.

Khorne and His Worship

Khorne is the easiest god ever to worship. Where other more pussified*BLAM* HERESY! gods may demand you to memorize overly long prayers and hymns, or to build huge houses of worship and other such gay bullshit, Khorne is venerated with one thing and one thing only. The time honoured tradition of hack'n'slash.

Khorne is worshipped on the battle field. His hymns are the sound of steel on steel, his prayers are the blows of hammer and axe and the bellowing of 'Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull throne!".

In essence, you worship Khorne by being a good warrior. And as a warrior, you'll find your interests and his tend to generally align; he wants death but isn't picky on who, and you want to live to fight another day. Thus, the mere act of perserving your life will earn the pleasure of the god of death. Ironic, no?

However, Khorne is one of those honourable war-gods. So don't think that beating your enemies by anything other than sheer strength, skill and aggression will make him happy. And for the love of Sigmar/Empra, don't try to cheat by picking fights with the weak or helpless or by giving him baby skulls. Khorne expects a form of savage, Viking-esque dignity from his followers and for them to be generally badass, this means you have to fight worthy opponents and those generally able to at least hold up a sword. After the manly enemies are out of the way; gorge yourself on the blood of women and children all you want. Most of the writers forget this, thinking that Khorne really gives no fucks about what you kill, and it makes Khorne snarl in anger. Though he continues to send his flesh-hounds to hunt down those who flee and abandon their brothers on the battlefield, be they Chaos or non-Chaos.

Aside from that, Khorne has no commandments whatsoever. But deviating from the aforementioned in the slightest is begging for the Flesh-Hounds to tear your ass apart.

Such as it is, it would be incorrect to think Khorne doesn't have priests dedicated to him. Though, being a warrior god, these priests tend to be warriors themselves and are often marked by their god. In essence, the only difference between them and a Chaos marauder/Space Marine is several pounds of armour. In Warhammer Fantasy, these priests are called 'Bloodfathers', and in lieu of magic that is gifted to their priests by other gods, Khorne just gives HOLYSHITAWESOME fighting skills and visions of bloodshed.

Khorne is also venerated by working brass into your armour and weapons and donning fashionable high collars. Occasionally, a warrior so pleases Khorne that he gifts him with specially made ones that in addition to looking fabulous can also grant total fucking immunity to magic.

Anyway, Khorne is worshiped by warriors, generals and basically anyone who likes battle. His chosen Space Marines legion is of course the World Eaters, in Warhammer Fantasy, the Norscans tend to venerate him with the greatest piety, especially the Aesling tribe, who are Khorne's most devoted servants in Fantasy.

Khorne and other Chaos gods

As a rule, Khorne despises Slaanesh because s/he's an effeminate milk-sop who can't grow a beard or swing an axe like she's got a pair (even though she's probably got the biggest pair, but less on that), and also because He personifies acting outwardly (ie: seeking the deaths of others), while Slaanesh acts inwardly (ie: pleasuring herself). Khorne also finds Slaanesh's obsession with luxury and torture wasteful and dishonorable. Slaanesh is about living it up while Khorne is about tearing it the fuck down.

Khorne hates Tzeentch also, though they are not fundamental rivals, because his reliance on magic is seen as a sign of weakness and his desire not to face his foes in person is decried by Khorne as cowardly. Khorne sees his penchant for deceit and trickery as dishonorable.

Khorne thinks he hates Nurgle also, because the fat fuck doesn't even try to get shit done. Thus, his embodiment as sloth runs contrary to the active, vital aspect of Khorne.

In short he hates everyone. And they hate him too. Except Nurgle, whose too nice to hate anyone. Except Tzeentch.

Khorne and non-Chaotic Gods

Well, Ulric's his little brother and they tend to get along rather well. Ulric's still ridiculing Khorne over the fact that one of his greatest champions, Haargroth, got his head smashed in by Ulric's Ar-Ulric, Khorne usually replies by pointing out that Storm of Chaos isn't canon anymore. Not that that stop's Ulric. Khorne and Ulric often get into arguments over which one of them is moar Viking; with Khorne usually winning by pointing out that his top worshipers actually are Vikings and that he has a valkyrie. They also settle this with arm wrestling and drinking contests. There's a lot of belligerence, but you can sense the brotherly love underneath. Indeed, it's kind of a Raoh/Ken relationship.

Khorne has a poor relationship with Myrmidia, seeing her bullshit 'planning' approach to war as disgraceful and sissy. Most meetings between the Blood God and the Maiden of Strategy end with the Blood God pummeling her into an inch of her life and then screaming; GET BACK TO THE KITCHEN, BITCH!!!

Khorne is the only Chaos God who tolerates Sigmar because he respects the idea of a mortal man becoming a god.

When asked about the Emperor, Khorne usually responds with a streaming torrent of bloody curses and oaths which causes a bloody froth to start leaking from his helmet. In short, he is remarkably indifferent to the old man.

Khorne is utterly sick and tired of anyone who dares associate him with Khaine. Before eviscerating anyone who makes that connection, he will often explain on how Khaine is an honourless god of murder and sadism, while he is a god of honourable and forthright battle and courage and how sadism is contrary to his code (Actually, Khorne used to be about honorable combat, but now he's just about mindless violence. Goddammit, GW). Khorne also reiterates that Khaine's elfishness and love for scantily clad assassin women is sickening and makes him more like Slaanesh.

As for Khaine himself, most meetings with said god involve Khorne individually breaking every bone in his body and spitting on the pain-wracked heap.

His portrayal in Warhammer Fantasy

He's Odin.

No that's it. Get the fuck out; he's an axe-crazy, psychopathic, daemonic version of Odin.

Oh? Oh? You want details you balls-less cunt lapper? Is that it?

Fine. Let's get this over with.

Well, for one thing, Chaos worshipers in Warhammer Fantasy actually are Vikings. Read about them here. Secondly, Khorne is closely associated with wolves in that setting (one of Odin's names literally translates to 'Battle Wolf'), and even has a wolf-like pet in Karanak. Idiots and/or Greeks like to think that Karanak is actually Cerberus, but these people tend to forget that Cereberus was a guardian of a place - something which Karanak is not. Karanak is simply a pet that Khorne keeps for amusement and an occasional hunting companion. Thus, fulfilling a role similar to Freki and Geri, or more closely, Garmr.

Another point of similarity is that both Odin and Khorne are war gods explicitly connected with Berserker rage, and they are thus in exactly the same way in that they bestow it. Additionally, they have their own warrior-cults associated with them who fight with said rage that is gifted to them by their gods. Odin's Olfhednar are practically the same as Khorne's Chosen in both form and function.

Additionally, thanks to Valkia, Khorne also has his own Valkyries to further the similarity between him and Odin. This was inevitable, of course, given that the Warriors of Chaos are indeed an evil version of the Vikings as has already been stated. It should also be noted that Valkia's similarity to the Valkyries is not a superficial one. She is actually referred to as 'the Sword-Maiden of the Blood God' in the WoC codex, and is Khorne's Chooser of the Slain who carries those worthy champions and warriors of his to fight on in the Blood God's halls after death.

Finally, we got a glimpse of his neck of the Realm of Chaos in the Valkia novel written by Sarah Cawkwell. It was basically Chaos Valhalla.

Again finally, did you know that one of the many translations of Odin actually means 'frenzy'.

To a lesser extent, this is also true in 40K. Where Khorne, while not explicitly worshiped by Vikings (in this version, they've been Christianized and turned into furfags)(yep, and they're still more manly and ballsy than your pussies), is still served by a cult of warriors in fact called 'Berzerkers'. Who are actually rather close to the historical Norse warriors in that they are a marauding band of badass mercenaries beholden to no-one and fight alongside whoever it serves them to. All the cool Space Wolves worship Khorne anyway, so he shall forever be known as the Roid-Raging Odin.

Odin is the only god in any mythology explicitly linked with Berserker rage and is primarily associated with wrath and bloodlust in battle. Odin even means 'the furious'. Tyr takes over more orderly aspects of wars, and handles diplomacy. Where as Odin is badass motherfucker who causes wars by throwing his spear at places and even fights on the battlefield in person. Fucking badass. Odin in his aspect as a god of Wisdom, however, is parallel to Tzeentch. Odin in his aspect of a war-god is parallel to Khorne.

Champions Of Khorne

In 40K

Because most fa/tg/uys are idiots and newfags who likely don't know that another Warhammer existed long before bolters and power armour. And this makes the Blood God snarl in anger.

  • Kharn the Betrayer: Embodiment of Crazy Awesome and Patron Saint of fun guys everywhere. Kharn is Khorne's greatest mortal champion in 40K and has a wholly deserved reputation as a team-killing fuck-up. Once upon a time, Kharn was a straight-laced, meticulous Assault Captain of the World Eaters 8th company. But after a certain chain of events dedicated himself wholly to Khorne, thus becoming one of the most fucking lethal warriors in the galaxy as well as probably the most religiously devoted of Khorne's servants. Also notable for shattering two entire Space Marine legions by himself with a flamethrower in a single night.
  • Angron: HE! GETS! SHIT! DONE!!!'. Khorne's foremost Daemon Prince alongside Doombreed. PERIOD.
  • Doombreed: Khorne's greatest Daemon Prince ever and possibly either Genghis Khan or Turgeis the Devil IRL. Notable for launching an actually successful Dark Crusade that wiped out two Space Marine chapters. Which is more than a certain armless failure has pulled off.
  • Svane Vulfbad: EVEN IN 40K KHORNE'S CHOSEN ARE VIKINGS. Svane Vulfbad is motherfucking badass Chaos Terminator Space Wolf Chaos Lord who grew tired of the Imperium's sickening effeminate inability to GET SHIT DONE and the Space Wolves' sickening fur-fetishes and instead decided to dedicated himself to a god worthy of his kickassery. He thus became a badass Chaos Lord dedicated to Khorne (because a berserker god of war who likes axes meshes well with Vikings) and slaughtered a shitton of Space Wolves despite being outnumbered and escaped Harald Deathwolf. He is currently rampaging throughout the Imperium. He has the best facial hair in all of 40k.
  • Crull: A Chaos Lord from Winter Assault notably only for making idiotic statements and utilizing Sorcerers in his warband.

In Fantasy

VIKINGS!!! VIIIIIIIIIIIIKIIIIIIIIIIIIINNGSSSSSSSS!!!

  • Valkia the Bloody: A pissed off badass Valkyrie who chooses who will fight on in the Halls of the Blood God after they die in glorious battle. She managed to kill a motherfucking DAEMON PRINCE as a lowly, un-Marked, un-augmented human in SINGLE COMBAT to earn Khorne's favour, CUT ITS FUCKING HEAD OFF, AND THEN CARRIED IT BACK TO THE NORTH TO PLACE AT THE FOOT OF THE SKULL THRONE. And then she died on the way. But Khorne was so impressed, he resurrected her as a fucking Daemon Prince. Now she flies around the battlefields of the world slaughtering anything that looks at her period and bearing Norsemen to the Khorne's place for a glorious afterlife of fighting and drinking. She is also far more attractive than anything of Slaanesh's menagerie, much to the Prince of Pleasure's eternal rage and the Bloodfather's great amusement, primarily due to having hair.
  • Garmr Hrodvitnir: A Chaos Lord of Khorne who managed to almost kill Gotrek Fucking Gurnisson in a fight. 'Nuff said.
  • Hrothgar Daemonaxe: A Chaos Lord who only had his rules and miniatures released at a Games Day. He had the statline of a Bloodthirster. His miniature also depicts him throttling an elf, which makes him a good person.
  • Arbaal the Undefeated: Nicknamed 'Arbaal the Easily Defeatable' due to his rules from Champions of Chaos having been shockingly awful. Arbaal's been effectively retcon'd out of existence under the excuse that he's journeyed into the Realm of Chaos to challenge Khorne himself to a fight. Good luck with that.
  • Scyla Anfingrimm: The greatest You-Know-What ever to walk the earth. Scyla was a Chaos Lord of Khorne who got one too many mutations before his time and devolved into a YKW. But he's the most badass YKW ever, and is a leadership 10 general. Which is impressive considering the only thing he can say is "KILL FOR KHORNE! KILL FOR KHORNE! KILL FOR KHORNE!".

Gallery

  • Khorne's followers off the battlefield.

    Khorne's followers off the battlefield.

  • Waffles for the Blood God!

    Waffles for the Blood God!

  • Khorne's trainers prefer violent Pokémon.

    Khorne's trainers prefer violent Pokémon.

  • Would have been a somewhat adequate picture, had they taken the right photographs of the actual Berzerkers. Lulz.

    Would have been a somewhat adequate picture, had they taken the right photographs of the actual Berzerkers. Lulz.

  • Mark of Khorne.

    Mark of Khorne.

  • Khornette

    Khornette

  • Just as Planned. Always as Planned.

    Just as Planned. Always as Planned.

  • Khorne's 'rivalry' with Slaanesh is not what it seems...

    Khorne's 'rivalry' with Slaanesh is not what it seems...

  • Khorne wants to know why the drawfags never give them noses.

    Khorne wants to know why the drawfags never give them noses.

  • In the grim darkness of the far future, there is still time for tea...

    In the grim darkness of the far future, there is still time for tea...

  • Warriors of Chaos - Making everything 40K look like bitches since 2002.

    Warriors of Chaos - Making everything 40K look like bitches since 2002.

See also

The Chaos Gods of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy
Four Main Chaos Gods: Khorne - Nurgle - Slaanesh - Tzeentch
Other Gods of Chaos: Archaon - Hashut - Horned Rat - Nuffle
Malal - Morghur - Necoho - Zuvassin
Chaos Gods of Law: Alluminas - Arianka - Solkan the Avenger
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