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Exalted Heroes

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"The Champion of Chaos, once wholly given to their Chaos Powers, will find one of three fates. Most find an ignoble death, joining the countless others in the final shuddering tearful moments as their bodies die. Others become Spawn, too far twisted by Chaos’ energies to retain their intelligence. But the prize, the fate all seek, is Daemonhood."

—Silus Helbrecht, Witch Hunter[3a]
Champion of Chaos

A mighty Chaos Champion of Tzeentch wearing a suit of Chaos Armour.[4]

Exalted Heroes, or Chaos Champions as they are more commonly called in the Old World, are mortal paragons of Chaos, usually Humans, of unusually deadly ability and lethal intent who have sworn their service to one of the four major Chaos Gods or to Chaos Undivided as a whole.

The Chaos Wastes forge some of the hardiest warriors in all the world. Some ascend to command entire realms or armies as the even more potent Chaos Lords, some pursue the esoteric paths of the arcane and become Chaos Sorcerers, but the majority dedicate themselves to little more than the brutal butchery of all who stand in their path.[4]

The histories of these ruthless killers is recorded in scattered chronicles by the free people of the Old World as a catalogue of woes and evil deeds. Their infamy shines bright as they capture the notice of the Dark Gods of Chaos with ever-greater feats of slaughter. Every Chaos Champion has proven their worth in some way to their chosen patron and is an enemy to all of the peoples of the mortal world.[4]

Quick Answers

What are the three fates of the Champion of Chaos? toggle section
The Exalted Hero of Chaos, or the Champion of Chaos, can face three destinies. They can ascend to be the Everchosen, the Lord of the End Times, bestowed with the gifts of all Chaos Gods, leading to widespread destruction. Alternatively, they can rise to a Chaos Lord, leading vast armies and nearing Daemonhood. Lastly, they can be cursed by Tzeentch into a disoriented spirit, serving the greatest champions of Chaos.
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What is the ultimate prize that all Champions of Chaos seek? toggle section
The ultimate reward that all Champions of Chaos, such as the Exalted Hero of Chaos, strive for is the ascension to Daemonhood. This involves gaining the highest favor of the Chaos Gods through conquests and being elevated to the status of a Daemon Prince, a being of godlike power and immortality, eternally tied to the darkness and their patron god's will.
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What happens to Champions of Chaos who become too twisted by Chaos’ energies? toggle section
Exalted Heroes of Chaos, when excessively twisted by Chaos energies, can lose their humanity, becoming mad slaughterers or Daemon Princes in the Realm of Chaos. Some, however, descend further, turning into mounds of mutated flesh. The fate of a Chaos Exalted Hero depends on the whims of the Chaos Gods. Some manage to delay this fate by performing significant, horrific deeds.
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Who are the mortal paragons of Chaos? toggle section
Mortal paragons of Chaos, or Champions of Chaos, are individuals who have demonstrated their loyalty to the Chaos Gods, surrendering their souls for divine blessings. They commit themselves to the Dark Gods, engaging in relentless battles and enduring bestowed mutations, with the ultimate goal of achieving divine favor from one of the four major Chaos Gods.
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What is another common name for Exalted Heroes in the Old World? toggle section
In the Old World, Exalted Heroes are frequently known as 'Venerated Souls'. They earn this title due to their exceptional piety, belief, and force of will, leading the citizens of the Empire and other realms to regard them as demi-gods.
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Role

"Desire for the gods' attention demands these men fight in the melee with strength far beyond that of mere mortals."

—Decription of the Exalted Heroes of Chaos[5]
Vlx-costin-10-chs-exhalted-hero-04

Chaos Champions rendered for Total War: Warhammer

The history of many Exalted Heroes of Chaos, recorded in scattered chronicles by the peoples of the Old World, is a catalogue of woes and evil deeds. Their infamy shines bright as they capture the notice of the Dark Gods of Chaos with ever greater feats of slaughter.[1a]

An Exalted Hero striding to war in a full suit of Chaos Armour is a sight that strikes fear into the hearts of all Men. A single Exalted Hero is the equal of a score of lesser men upon the battlefield. As with all those that dedicate themselves to Chaos, an Exalted Hero has been blessed by many gifts that grant them the means to bring about destruction in their wake.[2a]

Exalted Heroes frequently seek out others of their kind to engage in ritual combat. When two of these Champions of Chaos clash, they duel to the death in the manner of gladiators, using the full force of every weapon at their disposal. When a victor emerges, bloodied but triumphant, they will cut a grisly trophy from their foe, claiming both their vanquished enemy's weapons and followers as their own.[1a]

If the triumphant Chaos Champion has truly excelled, they may even succeed in attracting the attention of the Dark Gods and, in doing so, receive a more permanent reward for their deeds in the form of a mutation or Daemonic gift. With each victory, the Exalted Hero grows ever closer to becoming a Chaos Lord, with whole armies to command and even the ultimate prize of Daemonhood within their reach.[1a]

The Exalted Path

TzeentchChaosChampion

An Exalted Hero of Tzeentch stands upon ground that has been corrupted by the touch of his master, as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.[6]

The Champions of Chaos are those mortals who, driven by dark desires and temptations, fall to the worship of the Chaos Gods. These individuals are not bound by race, class, or culture -- they come from all corners of the mortal world. The warriors of darkness may be Norscans, Dwarfs, Kurgans, Elves, Hung, Beastmen, Tileans or Imperials. While many of these Champions originate from the tribes of the Northmen, all men and women, regardless of their origins, are capable of becoming pawns -- or even leaders -- of the forces that serve the Chaos Gods.[3a]

The road to becoming a Champion of Chaos is one paved with temptation, sacrifice, and, ultimately, the abandonment of all that is righteous. Whether from a long history of violence and warfare, or an internal struggle against the soul-corrupting powers of the Chaos Gods, every Champion must face the personal trials that lead them into the service of the Dark Gods.[3a]

For many, the journey begins with indulgence in their basest desires -- greed, lust, rage, and envy. It is these very vices that open the door to Chaos, as these individuals slowly descend into madness and self-destruction. The temptation becomes so overpowering that they turn their backs on the gods of their forefathers, forsaking their families, homes, and past lives. The price is steep: damnation of the soul, the physical transformation into twisted, mutant abominations, and ultimately, the complete surrender of their free will to the desires of the Chaos Gods.[3a]

The various tribes of the Northmen have foul rituals and ceremonies to commemorate the warrior's departure, their shaman-sorcerers prepare blood sacrifices and horrific rites, meant to please the Ruinous Powers. These rituals often involve the slaughter of captives -- slaves, prisoners, or rivals -- and the bloodshed serves as a conduit for the Chaos Gods to mark the chosen for their services. The strongest of these warriors will then embark on the fated journey to the battlefields of the Umbra, where they will face the harshest of trials and emerge either victorious as a n Exalted Hero of Chaos or die in the attempt.[3a]

Among the civilised realms of the Old World, such a departure always comes as a surprise. A warrior who has seen too much may abandon his family and friends, turning his back on his countrymen to become their enemy and wander beyond the reaches of Kislev to answer the call to war. Others, foolishly, claim plunder from a servant of darkness, taking up a Chaos-tainted weapon, or worse, donning a suit of wicked Chaos Armour in the thought that doing so somehow furthers his standing amongst his kind. What he discovers is that he has taken the place of he who wore or wielded it before, and inexorably travels the distance to join the reckless hosts of the damned.[3a]

Of course, mutants are the most numerous of those who make the journey. Instead of succumbing to the righteous flames of the witch hunters, they decide to flee to the north, escaping the cleansing fires to find succour with others of their kind.[3a]

Once these individuals reach the Chaos Wastes, they find no peace, only the perpetual struggle for survival. Hostile tribes, mutants, Chaos Marauders, and beasts roam the desolate landscape, while the oppressive weight of Chaos itself warps the very land and sky. Only the strongest, most ruthless individuals can survive this crucible and emerge as true Champions of Chaos.[3a]

Not every Champion of Chaos is destined for greatness. Many fall, either in battle or due to the insidious effects of Chaos itself. Their bodies twisted beyond recognition, these failed Champions may become Chaos Spawn -- mindless, monstrous creatures that no longer retain any sense of their former selves. Chaos Spawn are often little more than animalistic engines of destruction, utterly loyal to the whims of the Chaos Gods but lacking the intelligence to carry out any meaningful actions beyond mindless violence.[3a]

For those who endure the process and gain the favour of the Chaos Gods, the reward is great, but the consequences are dire. The greatest of these, those who rise above their peers and gain the Marks of Chaos, are transformed into Daemon Princes -- a near god-like status that grants them unimaginable power, immortality, and dominion over the mortal realm. However, this transformation comes at a steep cost: Daemon Princes are often fully subsumed by the will of the Chaos Gods they serve, losing their individual identity to become little more than instruments of their divine patrons' dark whims.[3a]

Marks of Chaos

Some Chaos Champions choose to pledge themselves to a single Chaos God rather than to Chaos Undivided as a whole. Forgoing the dilute blessings of all four major Ruinous Powers, they instead receive a single, mighty gift in exchange.[1]

Those Chaos Champions who earn the favour of one particular god are marked by them. The appearances and powers of these mortals are shaped according to their patron deity's persona and portfolio of interests, the signs and stigmata of their divine patronage proclaiming a warning to the other Dark Gods that this mortal soul has already been claimed.[1]

  • Champion of Nurgle - Disease, despair and death are sacred to the Plague Lord Nurgle and the Champion of Nurgle embodies all of these. These warriors are swollen and bloated, often little more than moving sacks of pus and infectious diseases. Whilst slow, their bodies have been completely dulled to pain and as such can endure immense amounts of damage before they die. Many can even regenerate their wounds.
  • Champion of Khorne - The most bloodthirsty and savage warriors of Chaos, Chaos Champions of Khorne lust after the spilling of blood and the roar of battle to satisfy the desires of the Blood God. They are often blessed with physical strength and a savage bloodlust beyond that known by any normal Human and are masters of brutal melee combat.
TzeentchChaosChampionConceptArt

Concept art for an Exalted Hero of Tzeentch as created for Total War: Warhammer III.[6]

  • Champion of Slaanesh - The physical senses of Slaaneshi Chaos Champions are often greatly increased and their mental acuity is so sharpened that their reaction times have become superhuman, allowing them to fight with blurring speed. Many enemies struggle to even see a Slaaneshi Champion's combat moves, let alone defend against them. Chaos Champions of the Dark Prince are often among the greatest swordsmen in the Old World.
  • Champion of Tzeentch - The Chaos Champions of the Changer of Ways are highly powerful sorcerer-warriors. The power Tzeentch grants his Champions allows them to become true masters of Dark Magic, which mixed with their skill in combat, makes them truly powerful foes. They are not to be confused with Tzeentchian Sorcerer Lords, who are purely wizards and not as skilled in physical combat. The Exalted Heroes of Tzeentch are also ostensibly often the most bizarre and macabre of the Lord of Change's mortal servants. Their armour is typically Tzeentchian in style, inlaid with bands of gold and bluish-silver and assembled from strangely curving components, but it is the god of magic's generous mutant "gift" of two extra heads that sets some of his Exalted Heroes apart from others on the battlefield. It is a change that irrevocably affects the mind, splitting an Exalted Hero's mortal personality into three conniving extremes. With eyes sealed shut, the central head jeers the whims of the two other personalities dwelling in the leering cyclopean heads on either side. Yet with a singular will, the creature swings its weapon with Tzeentch-imbued strength.[6]

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