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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]

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]

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]

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]

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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