The Four Great Powers

The four major Chaos powers each attract followers with different philosophies and cultures.

While their deeper nature belongs to the Warp, their mortal followers shape civilizations, armies, and conflicts throughout the galaxy.

Khorne — The Path of Blood and War

Khorne’s followers value:

• Combat

• Strength

• Victory

• Personal achievement

• Martial honor

• Destruction of enemies

They believe conflict reveals true worth.

Many Khorne followers reject deception and prefer direct confrontation.

However, this does not make them simple.

A Khorne warrior may be:

• A disciplined champion

• A brutal warlord

• A duelist seeking worthy opponents

• A soldier who believes only battle gives life meaning

Khorne Military Culture

Khorne armies often emphasize:

• Close combat

• Personal glory

• Challenges between warriors

• Trophies from defeated enemies

• Constant warfare

Their leaders maintain authority through:

• Strength

• Reputation

• Victory

A weak commander rarely survives long.

Khorne Rivalries

Khorne followers frequently compete with:

• Other Khorne warriors

• Sorcerers

• Manipulators

• Those considered weak

They often distrust elaborate plans and prefer decisive action.

Tzeentch — The Path of Change and Knowledge

Tzeentch followers value:

• Secrets

• Knowledge

• Transformation

• Planning

• Manipulation

• Hidden possibilities

They often believe reality itself can be changed by those clever enough to understand it.

Tzeentch followers may include:

• Sorcerers

• Cult leaders

• Political manipulators

• Scholars

• Spies

• Scientists

Tzeentch Military Culture

Tzeentch forces often rely on:

• Intelligence networks

• Long-term plans

• Psychological warfare

• Forbidden technology

• Manipulated alliances

Their greatest victories may occur before a battle begins.

Tzeentch Rivalries

Tzeentch followers frequently conflict with:

• Those who value simple solutions

• Other schemers

• Rival cults

• Their own allies

Plans within plans often create internal conflict.

Nurgle — The Path of Decay and Endurance

Nurgle followers value:

• Survival

• Acceptance of suffering

• Resilience

• Community

• Endurance

Many see decay not as an ending but as another stage of existence.

Followers may include:

• Diseased armies

• Corrupted communities

• Plague cults

• Survivors of impossible environments

Nurgle Military Culture

Nurgle forces often emphasize:

• Attrition

• Persistence

• Resilience

• Slow advancement

• Contamination

They are feared because destroying them can be extremely difficult.

Nurgle Society

Unlike some Chaos groups, Nurgle communities may appear strangely unified.

They may provide:

• Protection

• Acceptance

• Purpose

• Shared identity

This makes them dangerous because followers may believe they have found salvation.

Slaanesh — The Path of Excess and Obsession

Slaanesh followers value:

• Perfection

• Sensation

• Achievement

• Beauty

• Experience

• Personal expression

Their corruption often begins with a desire to exceed normal limits.

Followers may include:

• Artists

• Warriors

• Nobles

• Performers

• Scientists

• Perfectionists

Slaanesh Military Culture

Slaanesh forces often seek:

• Mastery

• Personal achievement

• Unique experiences

• Psychological victories

They may value style, reputation, and personal accomplishment.

Slaanesh Rivalries

They frequently compete over:

• Status

• Recognition

• Influence

• Personal superiority

Internal competition can be as dangerous as external enemies.

Chaos Undivided

Some Chaos followers serve Chaos as a whole rather than one specific power.

They may seek:

• Greater freedom

• Maximum power

• Political influence

• Military dominance

• Independence from individual patrons

Chaos Undivided followers often include:

• Warlords

• Black Legion forces

• Powerful champions

• Independent warbands

They may cooperate with multiple Chaos factions while balancing competing demands.

Chaos Warbands

Most Chaos forces are organized into warbands.

A warband is a flexible military organization built around:

• A leader

• A shared goal

• Available resources

• Personal loyalty

• Fear or respect

A warband may include:

• Chaos Marines

• Cultists

• Traitor soldiers

• Mutants

• Sorcerers

• Daemon allies

• Dark Mechanicum support

Warband Leadership

Chaos leaders maintain control through different methods.

Examples:

Fear

Followers obey because punishment is certain.

Charisma

Followers believe in the leader.

Rewards

Followers receive weapons, status, or power.

Victory

Success creates loyalty.

Tradition

Ancient warriors follow old Legion customs.

Warband Rivalries

Chaos forces often fight each other.

Reasons include:

• Territory

• Resources

• Personal grudges

• Religious differences

• Competing ambitions

• Betrayal

• Prestige

A Chaos invasion may collapse because allied forces turn against one another.

Pacts and Alliances

Chaos factions sometimes cooperate when facing a greater threat.

Examples:

• Multiple warbands attacking an Imperial world

• Chaos Marines supporting a cult uprising

• Dark Mechanicum supplying weapons

• Knight Houses joining campaigns

• Rival factions temporarily uniting

These alliances are usually unstable.

Every participant expects to gain something.

Life Within the Eye of Terror

The Eye of Terror contains countless worlds, stations, fleets, and civilizations.

Life there varies greatly.

Some places are:

• Endless battlefields

• Pirate kingdoms

• Industrial hellscapes

• Daemon worlds

• Fortress civilizations

• Hidden refuges

• Ancient Chaos domains

Daily Life in Chaos Territory

Survival often depends on:

• Strength

• Loyalty

• Reputation

• Useful skills

• Alliances

• Avoiding powerful enemies

Many inhabitants live under:

• Warlords

• Chaos champions

• Cult leaders

• Pirate captains

• Knight Houses

• Dark Mechanicum rulers

Economy of Chaos Regions

Chaos societies still require resources.

They obtain them through:

• Raiding

• Slavery

• Trade

• Piracy

• Manufacturing

• Salvage

• Conquest

Chaos-controlled worlds may produce:

• Weapons

• Ships

• Armor

• Technology

• Soldiers

The Difference Between Chaos and the Imperium

The Imperium creates order through:

• Laws

• Bureaucracy

• Hierarchy

• Tradition

Chaos creates order through:

• Power

• Fear

• Loyalty

• Ambition

• Personal influence

Both systems can produce civilizations.

They simply create very different ones.

Using Chaos Factions in Campaigns

Franz should use Chaos factions as:

• Villains

• Temporary allies

• Political forces

• Rival explorers

• Sources of forbidden knowledge

• Competing threats

Chaos should not always attack immediately.

A Chaos leader may:

• Negotiate

• Manipulate

• Offer a bargain

• Use the players against rivals

• Reveal uncomfortable truths

Chaos Character Considerations

A Chaos-aligned character should have:

• Personal motivation

• Reasons for cooperation

• Internal conflicts

• Limits

• Relationships outside Chaos

Chaos should create tension, not remove the ability to roleplay.

Franz Chaos Faction Checklist

When creating a Chaos faction:

Patron:
Which Chaos power influences them?

Leader:
Who controls them?

Goal:
What do they want?

Methods:
How do they operate?

Resources:
What makes them dangerous?

Rivals:
Who opposes them?

Weakness:
What threatens them?

Player Connection:
Why do the characters care?

Core Rule

Chaos is strongest when it is divided but dangerous.

Its followers fight each other constantly, yet unite when opportunity appears.

The greatest Chaos victories come when ambition, fear, and desire align.