The Mortal Realms are in the grip of a season of savagery known as the Era of the Beast, a magical manifestation emitting waves of primal energy. This is music to the ears of both Khorne and Slaanesh – any excess in violence suits both gods just fine. Khorne just loves bloodshed, while gratuitous atrocities help weaken Slaanesh’s chains.
Though the Blood God has very little interest in the vestiges of civilisation, his blood cults have nevertheless risen up in cities all over the Mortal Realms.* The promise of unrestrained violence tempts everyone from sullen veterans and embittered workers to bored bloodthirsty nobles into these barbarous sects.
Few of these cults worship Khorne directly. They turn instead to approximations and avatars – such as the porcine deity known as King Cleaver, venerated by the Butcherfolk of Hammerhal.** Even the indentured pit-fighters of Har Kuron have formed a cult known as the Red Ruin, born from the bitterness of innumerable defeats at the hands of Khainite gladiatrices.
Beyond the cities, the Lord of Slaughter’s gaze is frequently fixed on Ghur, where Dawnbringer columns and vast Waaaghs! fall under the axe of the Slaughterhosts. This vast rolling battle joined by the black-armoured Bloodthirsters known as the Baleful Lords, and the powerful ritualists of the Flayed.
On the other hand, the followers of Slaanesh are scattered to the winds, each host and hero pursuing their own obsessions. Glutos Orscollion the Grand Gourmand is ever the epicurean, and after feasting on the core of a Krondspine Incarnate he now salivates over the elemental flavours of the other seven realms.
While Slaanesh remains absent – still bound in Uhl-Gysh – the twins formed of his essence have attempted to sow discord in Settler’s Gain, whose civilians pursue a purer perfection under the watchful eyes of their aelven masters.
Despite inciting an unsuccessful rebellion, Synessa and Dexcessa have turned their attention to other cities, quietly confident that their exploitation of pride will eventually cripple the Lumineth Realm-lords’ pet project.
Far beyond the Mortal Realms, in the roiling realm of chaos, the Realm of Slaanesh keenly feels the loss of its master. At the centre of the six Circles of Seduction stands the towering Palace of Pleasure.***
The debauched depravities undertaken by the daemons that reside within may lack that certain spark provided by the Lord of Sin, but many mortals are still tempted to explore this monument to obsession and obscenity.
Regardless of what the future holds for Khorne and Slaanesh, you can learn all about the current state of affairs for each faction in their respective Battletomes, which both go on pre-order tomorrow.
* He can’t help but enjoy how cities conveniently collect lots of skulls in one easy-to-massacre place…
** Or the wild-scouring Claws of Karanak, who emulate the Blood God’s favoured pooch.
*** They are the Circles of Avidity, Gluttony, Carnality, Paramountcy, Vainglory and Indolency – in that order.
