The warband of Chaos Knights in service to the thirteenth Everchosen Archaon known as the Swords of Chaos.
The Swords of Chaos are a warband of Chaos Knights who directly serve the thirteenth Everchosen Archaon. The Swords of Chaos are not dedicated to any one of the major Chaos Gods alone. Like their master, they follow Chaos Undivided, the Great Nameless One, the Thing That Should Not Be.[1a]
All Champions of Chaos follow the Chaos Gods with reverent faith, but to this warband the worship of Chaos is everything. They are more like a religious order than a band of Chaos Warriors. [1a]
History[]
The Swords of Chaos' leader is called Archaon, the thirteenth Everchosen of Chaos Undivided. He is mighty, cunning, unspeakably evil, and is said to be the greatest Chaos Lord of the age. Rumours tell that he was a warrior-priest of a religious order of Sigmar in the Empire, but found his true faith in the worship of Chaos.[1a]
Archaon was granted a vision that he would unite the armies of the Warriors of Chaos and march against the civilised nations, bringing upon the world an Age of Chaos that would last for eternity. Archaon is utterly dedicated to this cause, and he will let nothing stand in his way. He is a great orator, and his speeches whip his followers into a religious frenzy. His words touch the soul of anyone who has pledged themselves to the cause of Chaos.[1a]
Archaon is constantly roaming the Chaos Wastes, seeking other warbands. In battle the choice that Archaon gives to the other warbands is simple: join him or die. Followers of all the major Chaos Gods are welcome, just as long as they swear fealty to Archaon. Chaos Undivided welcomes all its true sons.[1a]
Many disobey and die. But many others will be gripped by the zeal of Archaon and join him. Thus the Swords of Chaos have grown to be the largest coalition of warriors in the Northern Wastes. Many times have zealous defenders gathered armies and challenged Archaon, hoping to rid the world of his deadly threat. Now their bones litter the Northern Wastes and the plains of the Troll Country.[1a]
The warbands that gather under the banners of the Swords of Chaos are many and varied, but all of them are under the rule of the the merciless lord Archaon. All look to him for religious guidance. Their number grows daily, and many fear that Archaon will be the next one to gather the warbands of the Chaos Wastes and bring unholy war to the Old World.[1a]
End Times[]
Middenheim's Last Stand[]
This mighty gathering of Chaos Knights had been Archaon's loyal warband since long before the reign of the Emperor Karl Franz. Each possessed their own dark saga, for they had been powerful Chaos Champions of the Dark Gods even before they threw in their lot with the thirteenth Everchosen.[3a]
Yet Archaon's authority over the Swords of Chaos was absolute; even the greatest of them now did their master's bidding with an unquestioning instinct that went deeper than words. Indeed, some had stood so long before the open furnace of the Everchosen's will that they had lost their own altogether, becoming little more than automata. These lost warriors were no less deadly for all their mindlessness, still capable of reaping a bloody tally with sword and lance.[3a]
Siege of Averheim[]
The survivors of Archaon's old warband, the Swords of Chaos, were legend in the north. Unusually for their kind, the Swords of Chaos made no attempt to earn the favour of the Dark Gods -- they fought only for Archaon's glory. In return, they shared in the thirteenth Everchosen's rewards -- the further Archaon rose, the mightier the Swords of Chaos became.[4a]
Such loyalty had a price. All but the most driven of the Swords were steadily subsumed by Archaon's personality. By the time of the siege of Averheim, all save the Everchosen's chief lieutenants were little more than extensions of his fearsome will. Thus were they truly the Swords of Chaos: weapons to be unsheathed and wielded at Archaon's pleasure.[4a]
The End of All Things[]
The Swords of Chaos had been ravaged during the final moments of Averheim's fall to the Everchosen, but they were still an army fit to match the best that the Incarnates could throw at them. Whether driven by loyalty, personal ambition or the mere joy of battle, all felt the gaze of the Dark Gods upon them as they prepared for the final battles of the apocalypse.[4b]
Notable Swords of Chaos[]
- Kordel Shorgaar - The great Northman Chaos Knight Shorgaar is the standard bearer of the Swords of Chaos.