"For seventeen, long centuries have I remained in this blade, confined within these metal walls. During all of my time of imprisonment you are the first I have seen who is worthy to bear me into battle. Come, take my hilt, and I will serve you in the manner of my kind, drawing blood of your enemies, protecting you in the midst of the fight, bringing you safely home again. Now, draw me from the scabbard and test the fineness of my balance. See how easily I swing, how my keen edge cleaves the air. A good choice, am I not? Willingly you picked me up. Your first mistake. Willingly you drew me. Your second mistake. I do not allow my servants to make three mistakes, foolish mortal..."
- —Antinichus, Daemon of the Bloody Blade[1a]
A Daemon-possessed sword
Daemon Weapons are those melee weapons present in the mortal world that have been possessed by a Chaos Daemon. They should not be confused with possessed war machines such as the Hellcannon and Iron Daemon.
Of all the arms and artefacts made available to the Champions of Chaos, none are so vile, or so terrible, as the Daemon Weapon. Each rune-carved blade is a servant of the Ruinous Powers in its own right, since bound to it is the foul spirit of a Daemon. The weapon serves only the interests of its aligned Chaos God, reaping souls for the glory of its true master.[1a]
Daemon Weapons are forged at the very heart of the Chaos Wastes, where the Realm of Chaos and the Wastes wash against each other. Here, in the heatless fire of the Void, the blades are smelted by the Chaos Gods' mad servants, forged on the soul-anvil of a living servant, tempered in the screams of the doomed, and quenched in innocence.[1a]
But before it is complete, Forge-daemons inscribe the blade with dread runes, and ready the spirit of the Daemon chosen to inhabit it. Such acts are insane, and all the Shadowlands resound with the unfortunate Daemon's wailing. Once installed, the weapon gains a life of its own, and it is carried forth into the Chaos Wastes where it is presented to its mortal wielder as a symbol of divine approval and power.[1a]
These infernal blades are granted only to the most favoured of Chaos Champions or borne by Greater Daemons and Daemon Princes. Such a reward is great indeed and offers its wielder incredible power.[1a]
Daemon Weapons are similar in function to Chaos Weapons but are generally rarer and more powerful. Unlike Chaos Weapons, whose power rests in the magic bound within them, Daemon Weapons are in fact vessels, containing the essence of the foul fiend bound within. The weapon gains properties and functions depending on the type of Daemon trapped inside its bounds.[1a]
Notable Daemon Weapons[]
- Slayer of Kings - The Slayer of Kings was forged by Vangel, the Second Everchosen, and bound with the spirit of the Daemon Uz'uhl. It is currently wielded by Archaon, the Thirteenth Everchosen.[6a]
- Skar's Kraken-Killer - This Daemon Weapon was wielded by the Norscan Chaos Champion Skar Sealord.[2b]
- Hastyr - Hastyr, called the "King's Sword," was a legendary Daemon Weapon that enslaved an entire clan of the Hung until it was finally bound and sealed away from the mortal realm by the Hung Chaos Champion Ana-Mung to save his people.[2a]
- Snaga - Snaga is the fiend-tempered blade of the Chaos Lord Ogvaldr the Aesling, who struggled with Archaon while he was on the path to becoming the Thirteenth Everchosen. The blade was lost forever after Ogvaldr fell to Archaon's forces deep within the Chaos Wastes.[5]
- Garmr and Gormr - Garmr and Gormr were the hell-forged axes of the Skaeling Chaos Lord Egil Styrbjorn.[4]
- Y'Khggan - Y'Khggan was the Daemon Weapon once borne by the Daemon Prince of Khorne known as the Goreprince. It was later claimed by the Norse Chaos Lord and Champion of Khorne named Abrax the Bloody, who used the weapon to dismember its former master, the Goreprince.[7a]
Sources[]
- 1 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 191
- 2 Liber Chaotica: Khorne (Background Book)
- 4 Knight of the Realm (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds
- 5 Archaon: Everchosen (Novel) by Rob Saunders
- 6 Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (7th edition)
- 6a: pg. 69
- 7: Warhammer: Triumph and Treachery
- 7a: pp. 50-72