Brotherhood of Horned Darkness
The Brotherhood of Horned Darkness are a Chaos Cult active in the Calixis Sector and quite possibly beyond. They are ruled over by a powerful Daemon known as Balphomael. The Brotherhood is classified by the Ordo Malleus as a daemon-worshiping Cult.[1]
The ability of the Brotherhood to act clandestinely, sparingly, and rationally as opposed to many of the less-organised and psychotic Chaos Cults has resulted in the Inquisition finding it difficult to stamp out the group once and for all.[1]
Organisation
The Brotherhood has been smashed by the Inquisition time and time again, but has always endured. Appealing to the nobility and ruling elite of worlds who tend towards ambition and megalomania, the Brotherhood's inner membership consists almost entirely of the rich and powerful. The Cult's greatest stronghold has always been Scintilla, the heart of the Calixis Sector. The Brotherhood once caused a heresy so powerful and widespread, it nearly corrupted the Sector Government.[1]
The Brotherhood takes the form of a secret conspiracy that takes great pains to keep its existence hidden from the outside world. It makes extensive use of go-betweens, unwilling agents, encrypted messages, and a rigidly enforced code of silence to maintain its cover. The masters of the cult are known as "servants", each of whom has a pact with their Daemonic master Balphomael. Balphomael's will in the Cult is absolute, and none dare question his orders. The Cult's principle goal is to further the power, wealth, and influence of its ruling cabal while also pleasing its hidden patron by conducting human sacrifices.[1]
Below the central cabal of rulers are the worshipers, aspirants, and favored agents. Membership in the Cult is highly coveted by those who know of it, and assassination is often used to advance one's own position. Below these agents are the hired muscle: vagrants, cut-throats, and mercenaries that are ignorant of the greater purpose of the Brotherhood.[1]
Beliefs
Though it loyally serves its Daemonic masters, the Cult does not seek to overthrow the greater Imperium. Rather, it seeks to rule it and wield ultimate power from behind the scenes. To many higher-ups within the Cult, the Brotherhood's purpose is to help them dominate others and advance in power. This reflects the lust for power, greed, and megalomania of its mortal leaders. The Brotherhood considers the citizens of the Imperium as little more then objects and playthings, to be disposed of at their whim. As a result the Brotherhood uses violence, coercion, assassination, bribery, and exploitation as means to further its goals. However when it is forced to act violently, the Brotherhood prefers to disguise the act as a common crime.[1]
Operations
The Cult has successfully spread corruption through the heart of many commercial empires and noble houses on Scintilla. It has also spread its tendrils into the apparatuses of the Imperial state: the Administratum and Ecclesiarchy have both been infiltrated by the Brotherhood. At the peak of its power the Cult almost managed to corrupt the Governor of the Sector before it was found out and destroyed by the Ordo Hereticus.[1]
The Cult's Daemonic master, Balphomael, is eternally hungry. As a result the Cult maintains many hidden shrines to its daemonic patron with which it uses to commit acts of human sacrifice and ritual murder in the Daemon's name. In exchange, Balphomael gives the leaders of the Cult portions of its power through Daemonic Pacts.[1]
Notable Members
- Balphomael - Supreme Ruler
- Zentos Cyran - Mortal Master of the Cult[1]
- Malessence - the Dark Familiar[1]
See also
Sources
- 1: Dark Heresy: Disciples of the Dark Gods, pgs. 137-143