"Khaela Mensha Khaine, for hate's sake, hear our petition -- as blood answers the throat slit. Keep the hearts of the Druchii cold and bitter, wherein the murderous will of our survivor-civilization be preserved for all eternity. Bring death, just and swift, to the weak. Daub the revenger's blade with the blood of enemies old. Watch over the inconstant north. Grant the wild men and their wilderness your darkness. Let blade and bolt bring sacrifice to your altar. Bless the druchii, ever your acolytes and assassins, with murder in your name and victories as certain as spite."
- —Crone Hellebron, Hag Queen and high priestess of Khaine[9a]
Khaela Mensha Khaine, the Bloody-Handed God
Khaine, whose full, formal name is Khaela Mensha Khaine, also known as the "Bloody-Handed God" and the "Lord of Murder", is the Elven god of violence, war, cruelty, blood, destruction, and murder. In the Elven Pantheon, Khaine is the kindler of war, the ruthless personification of a vicious creed. he is a member of the sub-pantheon known as the Cytharai who generally represent the darker aspects of Elven nature. Khaine believes that conflict is necessary for peace to reign; only slaughter gives the promise of life any meaning; and love is nothing unless tempered by the blackest of hatreds. He is a god who gives his supplicants license to do as they will, and forbids nothing, save denial of his divine will.[2a]
Khaine has seventeen secret names which hold magical power when spoken aloud.[6d]
It is, therefore, little wonder that it is Khaine's blessings the Dark Elves seek most keenly, for their lives are founded upon deeds of slaughter and torment. Where the High Elves treat warily with the Lord of Murder, the Dark Elves embrace him with fervent abandon, sacrificing slaves, comrades and even their own children to catch Khaine's attention for even just a moment. Such devotion pleases the Bloody-Handed God in a way that the hollow observances of the High Elves never will, but Khaine is easily bored, and each passing year the sacrifices must become ever more wild and barbarous if they are to attract his ruddy gaze.[2a]
All Dark Elves are touched by Khaine to some degree, for their heritage is tainted by the Widowmaker and the acts of their ancestors performed at Aenarion's side. Many however, wholeheartedly embrace the Bloody-Handed God's cruel vision. Such Elves are known as the Knives of Khaine -- both revered and shunned by their fellows, they are loyal only to their ruthless creed.[2a]
Quick Answers
How does the Human Cult of Khaine differ from the Elven Cult in the 40k universe?
In the Warhammer 40k lore, who would win in a battle: Khaine or Khorne?
What role do the Blades of Khaine play in the Warhammer 40k universe?
How does Khaine influence the Druchii civilization in Warhammer 40k?
Mythology[]
"Time moved onwards, and I saw the rise of the brother-heroes, Eldanesh and Ulthanesh, who alone, in the absence of the First Ones, could control the Warp Gods and summon them onto the physical plane. I saw them march to war against the silver-skinned Yngir, the Star Gods and their slaves, and I saw them summon the dread lord Khaine, the Elder's mighty god of war, to battle with them. I saw the brothers and their god lead their children into battle time and time again, pitting Chaos-spawned furies against the soulless technologies of the Yngir.
But in time, the boundaries between the gods of the Aethyr and the gods of the stars blurred, and the Elder could no longer tell one from another..."
- —Liber Chaotica, ravings of a madman[14a]
Statues of Khaine
War in Heaven[]
It is said that Khaine once imprisoned Kurnous and Isha, and for this he was challenged by the smith-god Vaul. Khaine won, crippling and blinding Vaul and making him his servant, forcing him to forge weapons and armour. However Kurnous and Isha were freed.[13a]
Vaul is said to have been chained to his anvil by Khaine.[13a]
A Plain Brass Ring[]
Long ago, Hekarti forged eight rings for the god Khaine, each imbued with a single Wind of Magic. Lost and thrown into the mortal world due to one more in an endless series of conflicts between the gods, only a single ring is known to be found among the High Elves. However, at least one of the other rings was found by the High Elf Archmage Teclis, and for reasons known only to him this burnished brass ring was secreted away beneath the Light College in Altdorf.[11a]
The ring would doubtless grant great power to any capable of wielding it, though such beings are few and far between. A powerful High Elf Mage or Slaan would certainly be able to make use of the item. Most would simply be rent apart in an instant by the raw power contained in the ring -- though so spectacular and explosive a death might provide some utility to a sadistic cultist of Khaine.[11a]
Of course, Khaine himself longs deeply for the return of these rings, and the terrible Lord of Murder and his devotees would no doubt visit all sorts of horrors upon any mortal who would dare use the ring openly.[11a]
Nayadaryn Frostweald, "the Bonemonger" cares little for the item itself, but intends to use it to gain Khaine's attention and perhaps even his favour. Quite what a boon from the Lord of Murder would look like is anyone's guess...[11a]
Echoes of the Birth[]
Khaine is also described by the former Priest of Sigmar, Richter Kless, as a god of war belonging to an ancient race from the stars known as the "Elder" -- regarded as the most enlightened civilisation in the galaxy before their fall.[14a]
He likens them to the Elves of Ulthuan during their golden age, both in appearance and culture. These revelations came to him through visions and dreams following his corruption by the touch of Chaos, and were later recorded in the tome known as the Liber Chaotica.[14a]
In his visions, Khaine was brought into the material plane by two brothers, Eldanesh and Ulthanesh, who, after the departure of the First Ones, gained the ability to command the Warp gods. They led their people by summoning these gods into the physical realm. Together, the Elder and the summoned god Khaine waged war against the Yngir, the silver-skinned star gods.[14a]
Other Myths[]
Elven legends tell that Khaine will return in the Rhana Dandra, the final apocalyptic battle with Chaos, to fight the Chaos Gods, and that his strength will be required to defeat them.
The Widowmaker is said to be Khaine's own weapon, and is often referred to as the Sword of Khaine. Of his legendary rings, only the Ring of Fury has been found.
Symbols[]
The constellation Dragomas is associated with Khaine. Ravens are sacred to him.[5a][8a]
Worshippers[]
Worship Among the Elves[]
Khaine is worshipped most fanatically by the Dark Elves. In their society, the Cult of Khaine is the most powerful religious cult, and regularly makes bloody sacrifices of slaves and even other Dark Elves. The initiates of this cult are the female Witch Elves, who consider themselves the "brides of Khaine" and are led by the Hag Queens. The Cauldrons of Blood that the Dark Elves use are regularly adorned with large statues of Khaine. Additionally, on Death Night, the Witch Elves freely roam Dark Elf cities with impunity, killing all they find. Among the Druchii, brass-colored eyes are regarded as a sign of favour from Khaine.[4a]
Khaine has multiple aspects that are revered by the Dark Elves, collectively called the "thousand faces of Khaine".[6a] The Executioners of Har Ganeth revere him as the Executioner, while other aspects include the Manticore,[6b] the Scorpion,[7a] the Hawk,[7a] the Bull,[7a] the Wounded Warrior,[7a] the Iron Panther,[6c] the Deathbringer[6c] and the Serpent Lord.[6e]
The Witch King Malekith has learned to imbue armoured steel giants fashioned in the image of the fell deity with the souls of killers, creating fell embodiments of Khaine that carve through the ranks of those born of flesh and blood.[10a]
High Elves see Khaine as a necessary evil. High Elf Warriors pray to Khaine before battle, but are careful not to let his influence drive them to bloodlust and cloud their better judgement -- as the High Elves say, "the sword of Khaine cuts both ways." "Blood of Khaine!" is a common oath among the Asur.[3a]
Wood Elves worship Khaine in times of war, but he is rather low in their sights, ranking 14th on the Wood Elf pantheonic mandala. They do not take the worship of Khaine to such excesses as the Dark Elves.
Worship Among Humans[]
Khaine is an anathema to the Men of the Old World -- a god called Khaine is worshipped by Human murderers, and this cult is banned in all Imperial provinces. That Elves worship a god with the same name does nothing to calm Men's fearful suspicion of this race.[13a]
The Men of the Empire associate Khaine with Morr, the god of the dead, citing myths that link the two as brothers, each battling for control over the province of death. The Lord of Murder is worshipped by Human killers, thieves, and even some soldiers.[1a]
Some brave theists have dared to draw comparisons between Ulric, the god of war, winter and wolves in the Empire, and Khaine.[12a]
Connection to Khorne[]
"A god named Khaine, a god of murder and death and bloodshed, only the wilfully blind could not see that this is none other than the Blood Lord himself, cloaked in one of his many guises to beguile and trick those who might otherwise repel him."
A depiction of Khaine as seen by Humans.
For those familiar with Khorne, there are too many similarities to deny an association between the Blood God and the Lord of Murder. Those who defend Khaine claim Khorne is limited to battlefields and open war. Khorne is a Ruinous Power, a being of Chaos rather than being one of the Elves' many gods. But the effect of the magical sword known as Widowmaker on the Elves, to say nothing of the profane practices of Khaine's most devoted servants, the Witch Elves, are all clear indicators of some association.[1a]
To the Dark Elves, there is a distinction. They deny, even unto themselves, that they serve the Blood God. They suggest Khaine is no different in scope and power from those same deities embraced in the Old World by Men. The Dark Elves believe the distinction between Khorne and Khaine is one of degree. Where Khaine is the controlled violence of ritual and religious practice, Khorne is the uncontrolled savagery of the rabid dog, the wild killing sprees undertaken by the Norscans and other madmen of the Chaos Wastes. And just as the Empire takes steps to eliminate followers of Khorne, so too do the Dark Elves snuff out the lives of those who embrace the Blood God of Chaos.[1a]
Khaine's principal servants are the Witch Elves, called the Brides of Khaine. As maiden-Elves, his servants are wedded to him in midnight rites of blood sacrifice and cruel abasement. When the temple fires grow hot and the night black and cold, Khaine takes his new brides, and blood flows in torrents down the steps of his altar.[1a]
Canon Conflict[]
According to older canon, Khaine was the only Elven god worshipped by the Dark Elves. However, more recent canon in the 7th and 8th Editions of Warhammer Fantasy Battle indicates that the Dark Elves also worship some of the other gods of the Elven Pantheon, primarily the Cytharai.
Trivia[]
Khaine's name is a play on the biblical character of Cain, who became the first murderer in Human history after killing his brother Abel out of envy. This can also explain why Khaine is worshipped by the Men of the Old World, with Morr as his brother, as the latter deity is the god of the dead.
Khaine, like many other Elven gods, is worshipped by the Aeldari in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 161
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 35
- 3: Sons of Ellyrion (Novel) by Graham McNeill
- 3a: Chapter 11
- 4: Malus Darkblade Chronicle: Warpsword (Novel) by Dan Abnett & Mike Lee
- 4a: Chapter One: Bag of Bones
- 5: Malus Darkblade Chronicle: Lord of Ruin (Novel) by Dan Abnett & Mike Lee
- 5a: Chapter Two: The Double-Edged Sword
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition)
- 7: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
- 7a: pg. 11
- 8: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Archives of the Empire Vol. II (RPG)
- 8a: pg. 41
- 9: Archaon: Everchosen (Novel) by Rob Sanders
- 9a: Ch. 12
- 10: Warhammer Fantasy Battle: Rulebook (8th Edition)
- 10a: pg. 208
- 11: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Patrons of the Old World I (RPG)
- 11a: pg. 15
- 12: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Salvation (RPG)
- 12a: pp. 11-12
- 13: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Signs of Faith (RPG)
- 13a: pg. 28
- 14: Liber Chaotica (Background Book)
- 14a: "Echoes of the Birth," pg. 192