A death head, also called a Death Head of Nurgle, is a common tool of war used by the mortal and Daemonic thralls of Nurgle, the Chaos God of disease and death. Taking the skulls of foes they conquer, they cover them with wax mixed with blood to make them watertight. Then they draw pus from a Great Unclean One and pour it into the brain cavity before sealing it with more wax.[1a]
The skin of these severed heads are drawn tightly over the skull so that every detail of the bone beneath stands out starkly. Crawling with flies and maggots, such profane relics reek of evil, being used as grenades that erupt with clouds of Neighlish Rot upon hitting the ground. Only servants of Nurgle can handle these Death Heads safely. Anyone else who touches these items automatically contracts the deadly disease.[1a]