You’ve seen the new Hedonites of Slaanesh models. You’ve read Broken Realms: Morathi, haven’t you? If not, check out this primer to get up to speed. By now, it’s painfully obvious there are some big things coming for the followers of the Dark Prince. The Hedonites of Slaanesh battletome is up for pre-order later this month, and we wanted to give you a mouth-watering appetizer of the book, stuffed as it is with sights and stories, unlike anything you’ve seen and read before. An amuse-bouche of imagery. An hors d'œuvre of tantalising lore. Let’s dig in...
Who are the Hedonites?
The God of depravity was imprisoned long ago by some of the most powerful beings in the Mortal Realms. In his absence, the mortal followers of Slaanesh have been fractured into various groups, each with a different goal.
Some wander according to their whim, reaving and ravaging. Others seek out their missing deity, pursuing every rumour and driven by the endless quest. A few even desire to take a seat in Slaanesh’s empty throne and become a god in his stead. What unites them all, though, is the thrill of excess.
When they march to war, their focus is given over to the wealth of stimulation the battlefield has to offer. These warriors savour the delicious sensations of pain, terror, hope, and bloodlust – both their own and that of their enemies. They endeavour to reshape the realms into an endless dark paradise, rich with a million forms of debauchery and overindulgence.
The nature of Slaanesh
The most insidious of the Chaos Gods embodies the dark fates born from obsession. Slaanesh’s temptations are impossibly subtle – a fondness for fine and exotic cuisine, a shameful habit hidden from prying eyes, a swelling pride in one’s own martial skill – yet they all lead inexorably to the same place.
The Dark Prince does not force his way into your heart, nor does he manipulate you through schemes and plans. Rather, an obsession nestles intimately within one’s soul, spreading sickly-sweet corruption until you’re all too eager to doom yourself.
A host resurgent
Though imprisoned and bound by potent magics, Slaanesh was far from idle. Little by little, he found ways to weaken and break the chains that bound him, keeping his growing strength a secret to all.
When Morathi attempted to use the Dark Prince’s power for her own gain, something snapped, allowing Slaanesh to send a shard of his essence into the fabric of the realms. His mortal followers flocked to the nascent god-spawn, howling and chanting in praise.
All across the Mortal Realms, worshippers burst from the shadows and rose up, an urgency gripping their souls. New campaigns were launched, upcoming leaders seized power, and monstrous daemons were unleashed to fight alongside them.
The Geld-Prince
Once the favoured son of the Prince of Pleasure, Sigvald the Magnificent was also held captive for a time. As the bonds that held Slaanesh imprisoned were weakened, so too did the power of the Magnificent Mirror, where Sigvald’s soul was trapped, begin to wane.
Eventually, the Geld-Prince was discovered and let loose once again upon the Mortal Realms. More powerful than ever and basking in Slaanesh’s attention again, he assembled his Decadent Host and began drawing warriors to his banner. Wherever he goes, the Decadent Host follows Sigvald, utterly obsessed with the force of his glory.
Sigvald the Magnificent burns with a hidden shame, buried beneath layers of smug conceit and displays of vainglory. He desires revenge against Nagash, who fashioned his prison, and he wants to crush the Ossiarch Empire to deliver a blow the Great Necromancer can’t ignore.
What’s next for the Hedonites?
You’ll have to read the book to discover the full extent of the revelations, but suffice to say there’s a reckoning brewing that will reach all corners of the Mortal Realms. Can’t wait to get started? Grab a copy of Warhammer Underworlds: Direchasm to get your hands on the Dread Pageant warband to practice some colour schemes.
You’ll be able to pre-order the battletome very soon, along with a host of stunning new models. In the meantime, head to the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Facebook page and let us know which art moves you and what you think of this unfolding story.
