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[[Image:40k-139-the-ruinous-powers.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Daemons of the Ruinous Powers]]
The '''Chaos Gods''', also called the '''Dark Gods''' or the '''Ruinous Powers''', are powerful beings of the psychic universe known as the [[Warp]], created and sustained by the emotions and souls of every living being of the material universe. Although they are god-like beings, they are by their nature monomaniacal and completely single-minded (formed completely of a single emotion or concept) as well as being completely dependent on the emotions of mortal creatures for their power and continued existence.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|13}}
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Gods are able to devote a fraction of their power to create [[daemon]]s, whose appearance and character reflect the god's own nature. These daemons may be reabsorbed into the god at whim. The least of the minor gods may be so limited in their power that expending their power to create a daemon means their entire power is expended; in effect, the god becomes a daemon.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|7}}

==Origins==
In the early history of the Galaxy, the powers of the Warp had yet to form into distinct entities. At this time, the emotions of mortals flowed and ebbed as water does in a stream. As the mortal races grew and prospered, so did the strength of their emotions. Eventually, the gods grew to such a point where they could act independently of the general flow of emotions and thus became the Gods of [[Chaos]]. They reached into the dreams of mortals and demanded praise and servitude in order to increase their own power, as the more one emotion is exhibited (in both thought and action) the stronger that god becomes.{{Fn|1a}}

The first three gods, [[Khorne]], [[Tzeentch]], and [[Nurgle]], became sapient by the end of [[M2]], but [[Slaanesh]] didn't fully awaken until the [[Fall of the Eldar]] in [[M29]].{{Fn|8}}

==Followers==
[[Image:ChaosMap.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The realm of the Chaos Gods]]

The Chaos Gods' most devoted followers are known as [[Champion of Chaos|Champions]], spiritually bound to their patrons. Chaos Champions are rewarded with 'gifts' unique to each god and the potential 'blessing' of ascension to [[Daemon Prince]]dom.{{Fn|1b}}

When a follower of a Chaos God dies, their soul is absorbed into the greater mass of that god, adding its energy to the already formidable power of that god.{{Fn|1}}

==Daemons==
{{Main|Daemon}}
A [[Daemon]] is a creature formed from a fragment of a Chaos God's consciousness. They form the armies of the Chaos Gods, and frequently battle the armies of other gods and unbelievers on the material plane.{{Fn|7}}

==Relationships between the gods==
The gods are rivals of each other - the constant war between them mirrors the struggle between their followers in the material universe, and vice versa. Victory in mortal battles lends more power to the relevant god, although often victory is not necessary, just the shedding blood and sacrifice is required.{{Fn|1}}

The Chaos Gods are almost constantly at war with one another within the [[Warp]], vying for power amid the immaterial planes. Despite their myriad differences, the Great Gods of Chaos have the same goal: total domination. Such absolute power cannot be shared - especially amongst gods. With the ebb and flow of energy within the Warp, the powers of the Chaos Gods expand and contract.{{Fn|7}} This eternal struggle for dominance is known as the [[Great Game]].{{Fn|3}}

==Notable==
The four main Gods of Chaos are:
*[[Khorne]] — The Blood God{{Fn|2}}
*[[Tzeentch]] — The Changer of the Ways{{Fn|2}}
*[[Nurgle]] — The Great Lord of Decay{{Fn|2}}
*[[Slaanesh]] — The Prince of Excess{{Fn|2}}

Beyond the main four, the Warp has created many nameless Chaos gods, only for them to die with the passing of aeons. Of these the following are known or speculated to exist within the setting:{{Fn|5}}
* [[Ans'l]], [[Mo'rcck]], and [[Phraz-Etar]] are minor Chaos deities. [[Chaos Space Marine|Chaos Space Marines]] were rumoured to praise them by putting spikes on their [[power armour]].{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|Note 1}}
* The [[Dark King (Entity)|Dark King]], theoretical 5th major Chaos God.{{Fn|12}}
* [[Malice (Chaos God)|Malice]] is an entity worshipped as the '''Renegade God''' of Chaos and '''Hierarch of Anarchy and Terror'''. The Renegade [[Chapter]] [[Sons of Malice]] are among his followers.{{Fn|4}}
*[[Mord’dagan]], '''the Eater of the Dead''', supernatural beast of legend, godhead of the [[Saynay]] cannibal cult.{{Fn|10}}{{Fn|11}}
* [[Vashtorr]], '''the Arkifane''', ruler of the [[Forge of Souls]], has been called a demi-god of inventors, engineers, scientists, and artisans. He seeks to become a 5th major Chaos God in his own right.{{Fn|9}}
*[[Pater Mutatis]] - God of distortion of the body and mutation. Grown from the creations of [[Fabius Bile]]{{Fn|15}}
* It is speculated that [[Chaos Raptor|Raptor]] Cults worship a minor Chaos deity.{{Fn|6}}

==Trivia==
{{trivia}}
*{{Endn|Note 1}}: The names of the minor Chaos Gods [[Ans'l]], [[Mo'rcck]], and [[Phraz-Etar]] are puns on the last names of [[Bryan Ansell]], [[Wikipedia:Michael Moorcock|Michael Moorcock]], and [[Wikipedia:Frank Frazetta|Frank Frazetta]].

==See also==
* [[List of Warp Entities]]
*[[Dark Tongue]]

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)]]
**{{Endn|1a}}: pgs. 8-9
**{{Endn|1b}}: pgs. 94-95
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 1st Codex)]], pg. 20
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Chaos Daemons (4th Edition)]], pg. 7
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Labyrinth (Short Story)]]
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Black Crusade Core Rulebook]], pg. 11
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Index Astartes IV]] — ''Harbingers of Doom''
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Codex: Chaos Daemons (8th Edition)]] pgs. 6-9
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned]], page 176 —''The Emperor and the Powers of Chaos''
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Arks of Omen: Abaddon]], pg. 15-16
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Dark Heresy: The Radical's Handbook]], pg. 97
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus]], pg. 105
*{{Endn|12}}: [[The End and the Death: Volume II (Novel)]] - i
*{{Endn|13}}: [[The Talon of Horus (Novel)]] - Chapter 5
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond Warhammer 40,000]] - ''Ruinous Powers''
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Fabius Bile: Manflayer (Novel)]] - Chapter 5
===Uncited===
{{uncited}}
*[[Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness]]
*[[Realms of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned]]

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{{Deities}}

[[Category:Chaos Gods| ]]

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