Chaos Monoliths

Chaos Monoliths are great monuments to individual champions of Chaos. They are usually erected by the members of that champion's warband, or by the members of his tribe after the champion's ascending to daemonhood. Monoliths can be found anywhere, even within the borders of the Empire, though this is rare. Most however are concentrated in Norsca and the Chaos Wastes.

Most Chaos Monoliths are constructed from stone, hence the name. However, they may also be constructed from ancient timber, metal and other even more exotic substances - such as bone, gems and flesh. The Chaos Dwarfs of Zorn Uzkal are said to cast monoliths from solid brass, polishing them to a mirror finish. Such sheen is said to reflect the savage countenance of the Champion the monolith commemorates, rather than the onlooker.

The monoliths are constructed for various reasons, such as to mark tribal territory, but their primary purpose is to commemorate a warrior who has been rewarded with the ultimate gift of daemonic immortality. The monolith stands at the point where he ascended to stand at the right hand of the gods and bears the saga of his life writ upon it in the harsh runes of the Dark Tongue.

Such monoliths are usually also wrought with the runes of the newly born demon and his patron god(s). Both are said to watch over the monoliths dedicated to them, protecting them from the decay of the ages.

Only powerful enemies of Chaos, such as the members of the Witch Hunters or the Warrior Priests of the various orders of the Empire have the courage to destroy these evil creations. The common folk of the Empire and the rest of the south fear these constructions and the incantations and rituals that are said to protect them. While the Norsemen and other followers of Chaos, even those who worship an opposing power, will invariably treat them with reverence and respect. It is common for them not to pass these great runestones without reading the sagas writ upon them, and then repeating them to all around their campfires.