In Warhammer, one of the greatest dangers to the world is “the Chaos.” In Space Marine 2, for instance, you fight against the forces of Chaos, but aside from the information that Chaos is supposed to be absolutely evil, you get hardly any details. MeinMMO explains what this cosmic force is all about.
One of the greatest enemies of the Imperium of Mankind is Chaos, an invisible force that repeatedly manifests in powerful disasters and even gods. Strictly speaking, Chaos is simply the opposite of order and seeks to eliminate it.
However, if you haven’t dealt much with Warhammer, it isn’t really clear why Chaos is actually so dangerous – and why it is supposed to be “evil.” There are quite complicated interconnections behind it.
Since the Imperium stands for order, the two forces are natural enemies, locked in a seemingly endless struggle. The Imperium hasn’t lost this battle only because the Emperor has kept the gods at bay almost alone for millennia.
Despite the war, humans and even other beings like Aeldari repeatedly succumb to the temptations of Chaos and serve it in exchange for unholy powers. There can be many reasons for this, but it usually involves desperation, doubt in the order, or simply greed for power.
In the strategy game Total War: Warhammer 3, you can play as all the Chaos gods and see what they can do:
Chaos knows only one goal: Annihilation of all order
Similar to the Tyranids, Chaos seeks destruction. While the Tyranids simply want to consume everything, Chaos aims to destroy all order to return all of creation to its “natural” chaotic origin.
The realm of Chaos is the Immaterium, or the Warp – a kind of distorted parallel world to ours, where demons live, and where souls are also said to be home. By the way, the Immaterium is also the space through which humans travel when they want to move quickly through the galaxy.
However, since Chaos abhors order even within itself, there are disputes and wars among demons and gods, fought in endless battles in the Warp. Without this war, however, there would be order, and no chaotic realm anymore.
Beings of the Warp: Heretics, Chaos gods, and demons
The Warp is actually a more or less formless world, where thoughts and emotions reside. When similar emotions gather, it can happen that they take form and manifest. This is how demons and even Chaos gods are born, of which there are currently four in Warhammer, constantly making their appearances:
- Khorne, the Blood God, stands for war, brutality, and rage. It is said that his hatred and bloodlust are insatiable.
- Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways, is the god of change, sorcery, and manipulation. His goal is the constant transformation of reality.
- Grandfather Nurgle cultivates all kinds of diseases and pestilence in his “garden.” With a friendly smile, he benevolently distributes gifts, but his gifts are death and decay, which are to be followed by “unbridled life.”
- Slaanesh, the youngest Chaos god, represents excess, temptation, and vice in all forms. His domain includes perverse pleasure, but also arrogance, sadism, desire, and love. Once a mortal being becomes too obsessive, it becomes susceptible to Slaanesh.
The followers of the gods usually receive gifts corresponding to their respective domain. Khorne worshippers are deadly warriors, while Nurgle cultists spread diseases. Many willingly surrender themselves to Chaos, even among the Space Marines, there are Chaos worshippers.
A sign of Chaos influence is often mutations – a reason why they are so hated and regarded as impure in the Imperium. Particularly for Tzeentch followers, mutations are the greatest blessing.
No one is truly safe from the influence of Chaos, and it is even possible to inadvertently worship the Chaos gods. Even among the Adepta Sororitas, who are considered incorruptible, there are cases of heresy.
Chaos is not necessarily “evil”
Even though Chaos is considered the enemy of the Imperium, it is not necessarily evil, but rather a formless power. Many people who turn to Chaos are not evil at the outset but simply want to escape slavery or suffering.
Chaos promises them an escape, a way to somehow flee their misery. What these people have to do to worship their gods is of little concern to those gods: only the result counts.
Chaos is the source of human magic in Warhammer 40,000
In this context, the Warp is an unformed energy that can be harnessed by humans (or other beings) with the corresponding talent. Psykers, for example, can shape the Immaterium into powerful spells. Astropaths can use it to transmit messages over long distances.
However, since there is always the danger that Chaos invades the mind of the spellcaster while casting magic, psykers are particularly susceptible to such whisperings and are thus under constant observation in the Imperium.
Only a few may serve as “sanctioned psykers,” many are directly destroyed or “fed” to the Golden Throne. By the way, the influence of Chaos in the Imperium is monitored by the Ordo Haereticus of the Inquisition.
For psykers, it is particularly easy to fall into heresy, and this even applies to the Adeptus Astartes, whose spellcasters then become dangerous Chaos sorcerers. If you’re wondering why all the terms sound so strange, there is also an explanation for that: Cogitator, Vox, Astartes – Why do people in Warhammer 40,000 not use normal words?
