Chaos Sorcerer
Sorcerers and sorceresses are individuals who make use of the powers of Chaos or strike pacts with vile daemonic entities.[38] These individuals are usually innate psykers, and can come from a sanctioned or rogue background. Being a rogue psyker, or any kind of innate psyker, isn't required to attain power through sorcery.[39a] Sometimes called conjurors or daemon-whisperers, the path of a sorcerer is intimately tied to atrocity.[40]
Chaos Space Marine Sorcerers are the counterpart to loyalist Space Marine Librarians.
Contents
Overview
Sorcery is the application of warpcraft, occult formulae, and the exercise of will in order to achieve immediate mental and physical benefits, much like those of psychic abilities. These abilities, unlike usual psyker disciplines, do not require innate psychic potential. All that is required to perform sorcery is the knowledge, conviction, and stomach to put such sanity-twisting knowledge and rituals into practice.[39a] It also isn't entirely clear-cut where traditionally understood psychic arts end and the maelific arts of sorcery begin.[39c]
This malign and erratic sphere of knowledge is ultimately based on the powers of the daemonic, whether it be directly channeling the powers of warp entities (accidentally or not) or using the warp to imbue the summoner with psychic power. A deluded sorcerer might claim they are simply practicing a poorly understood art or science that is unjustly labelled as malign, while others claim their practice is a gift from their gods.[39a]
"True Sorcerers" are individuals began their quest for power and knowledge with no innate psychic ability. True sorcerers of great power are rare and are counted amongst the most dangerous enemies of the Inquisition. Malignantly intelligent, obsessed, and driven, they cultivate their dark arts solely through forbidden learning and pacts with horrors from beyond.[39a]
The manner in which a sorcerer uses the warp puts them at greater risk of more intense warp phenomena than that of using innate psychic powers.[39b] Sorcerous powers tend to be quite volatile, being as dangerous to the summoner and their allies as it is for their foes. Some sorcerers who shroud themselves in less mystery and mystique might use code like "clean" or "dirty" when referring to the two schools of warp power; "clean" referring to innate psychic abilities, and "dirty" referring to the sorcerous arts of delving into the domains of gods and daemons.[36b]
Some Chaos Sorcerers are soul bound to a higher power or being for a measure of their protection. Similar to how the Imperial Psykers known as Astropaths undergo Soul Binding to the Emperor, a Chaos Sorcerer might be soul bound to one of the Ruinous Powers.[41]
Sorcerers will often lead Chaos Cults, maintaining a guise or air of aloof mystery to promote fear and obedience in their underlings.
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Chaos Space Marine Sorcerers
The first Chaos Space Marine Sorcerers emerged from the ranks of the Thousand Sons before and during the Horus Heresy. Some of these Sorcerers were exiled after the Rubric of Ahriman was cast and they now sell their services in exchange for sacrifices or the chance to hunt down arcane lore. Only the World Eaters destroyed their Sorcerers, Khorne having no interest in sorcery. If a Librarian overreaches himself and draws on too much psychic energy he may be granted visions of immortality and whispered promises of power.[1]
Most Sorcerers are granted gifts by their god, which further enhance their psychic powers. They are also often selfish madmen, believing themselves superior to all others and on a mighty quest for power and knowledge to increase their mental fortitude and develop new ways of using their powers. Often the visions given to Sorcerers are unattainable, subsequently driving them to extremes in their desire to achieve these goals.[1]
In addition to the Chaos Psychic Powers they can call upon, certain powerful sorcerers are able to wield Force Weapons.[1] Sorcerers often take part in Daemonic Pacts to increase their powers through the use of Daemonic energy. This pact bargains some form of service or payment in return for a part of the Daemon's power. The Sorcerer can use this power to unleash staggering psychic powers, in the same way as Daemons use it to maintain their grip on reality. The greatest Sorcerers have dozens of daemonic pacts to increase their powers to unimaginable ends. While this can be useful and attractive, eventually a price must be paid by the Sorcerer.[1]
While Sorcerers of the Chaos Space Marines (and renegade sanctioned psykers or Space Marine Librarians) can draw upon warp powers more reliably and safely, the mortal Sorcerers and unsanctioned psykers of baseline humanity are less bound by strictures of safety. The latter can pull more deeply from the warp for a greater potential for psychic strength, at the risk of worse Psychic Phenomena occurring.[37a]
Chaos Sorcerer Disciplines
- Sinistrum — Sorcerers of this discipline spend their lives hunting for forbidden tomes and lore, giving them primordial Warp abilities.[4]
- Heretech — Specialise in the corruption of machinery and the creation of Daemon Engines[4]
- Ectomancy — Specialise in the creation and manipulation of Warp lightning and energies.[4]
- Geomortis — Manipulate the earth itself.[4]
- Daemonancy - The summoning and control of Daemons[31]
- Change - A discipline of Tzeentch[32]
- Vengeance - A discipline of Tzeentch[32]
- Contagion - A discipline of Nurgle[33]
- Soulstain - A discipline of Slaanesh
Variations
- Sorcerer Lord — sorcerers that serve as Chaos Lords of their own warband
- Master of Possession - Masters of manipulating the Daemonic.[22]
- Thousand Sons/Tzeentch
- Scarab Occult Sorcerers - sorcerers of Thousand Sons who direct in battle Rubricae and Scarab Occult Terminators.[7]
- Exalted Sorcerers - Experienced Sorcerers of the Thousand Sons[5]
- Infernal Master - Sorcerers who are masters of Daemonology.[21]
- Aspiring Sorcerers - Apprentices who lead Rubicae Squads.
- Death Guard/Nurgle
- Cadaverous Faminebringers - sorcerers of Nurgle in the Death Guard[6]
- Festering Poxshamans - rarely seen sorcerers of Nurgle in the Death Guard[6]
- Malignant Plaguecasters - most commonly seen sorcerers of Nurgle in the Death Guard[6]
- Slopmaw Maggotmancers - sorcerers of Nurgle in the Death Guard[6]
- Balefire Acolyte[23]
Notable Chaos Sorcerers
- Thousand Sons
- Black Legion
- Death Guard
- Iron Warriors
- Word Bearers
- Other
- Amadeus Volkstein — of the Oracles of Change
- Severin Drask — of the Crimson Slaughter
- Garlon Souleater - of the Red Corsairs[8]
- Hasophet — Magister of the Mind-Eaters
- Kraan[27]
- Malafor — of the Death Shadows
- Nihilan — of the Salamanders (became Renegade)
- Sathariel — of the Fallen
- Sindri Myr - of the Alpha Legion
- Urulek - devoted to Nurgle[24]
- Vasellisk - of the Night Lords[17]
- Vorchiss - devoted to Tzeentch[25]
- Yelgth'ir[28]
Human
- Tulava Dyne – Renegade Sanctioned Psyker; now Sorceress of the Serpent’s Teeth Ghost Legion warband[36]
- Radimir Niklau - A notable Shadow-Walker[42]
- Alicia Kar Manticos - Tzeentchian Sorceress
Miniatures
2nd Edition (metal)
2nd Edition Sorcerer[29]
2nd Edition (metal)[29]
Sorcerer of Nurgle (resin)
by Forge WorldBlack Legion Sorcerer (6th Edition)[3]
Thousand Sons Exalted Sorcerer Squad (7th Edition)
Chaos Sorcerer (8th Edition)[9]
Trivia
- In 3rd Edition, Chaos Sorcerers were Chaos Lieutenants with psychic powers, second in command to Chaos Lords who could also have psychic powers and carried unique staves.[2] In 4th Edition however, Chaos Sorcerers are moved much closer to the role of Librarians and made into a dedicated unit rather than an upgrade for pre-existing units.[1]
See also
Sources
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- 1: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 31
- 2: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition),
[Help] - 3: Warhammer-Community - Kill Team: Chaos Commanders (last accessed 12 October 2018)
- 4: Black Crusade: Traitor's Hate — Forces of Chaos
- 5: Index: Chaos (8th Edition), pg. 52
- 6: Dark Imperium (Game), 'Death Guard Booklet' pg. 6 — Malignant Plaguecasters
- 7: Codex: Thousand Sons (8th Edition), pg. 19
- 8: Into the Maelstrom (Short Story)
- 9: Warhammer Community: New Reveals, Chaos, Sororitas tanks, and more (posted November 3 2019) (Last accessed 11/3/2019)
- 10: Codex: Death Guard (8th Edition), pg. 101
- 11: Horus Heresy (Artbook Series), pg. 291
- 12: Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf, Mission 1
- 13: The Emperor's Chosen (Short Story)
- 14: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
- 15: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
- 16: Fallen (Comic Series), Issue #9
- 17: Codex: Thousand Sons (8th Edition), pg. 29
- 18: The Talon of Horus (Novel), Chapter 13
- 19: Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition), pg. 45
- 20: Hand of Abaddon (Novel), Dramatis Personae
- 21: Warhammer Community: Introducing the Thousand Sons’ Infernal Masters Who Forge Unholy Pacts With Daemonkind (Posted on 19/07/2021) (Last accessed on 19 July 2021)
- 22: Codex: Daemonkin (8th Edition), pg. 6
- 23: Warhammer Community: The New Chaos Space Marines Kill Team is Here – and They’ve Got a Host of New Ways to Slay (posted 21/2/2022) (last accessed 23/2/2022)
- 24: Black Crusade Core Rulebook, pg. 207 — Chapter 6: Psychic Powers - Paths to Power - Blasphemous Incantation
- 25: White Dwarf 292 (UK), pg. 95
- 26: White Dwarf 397 (ipad)
- 27: Dark Millennium (game system): Prophecy's Peril, card description
- 28: Codex: Harlequins (8th Edition), pg. 29 — The Dance of Ages: A Single Blade
- 29: 2002 - The 2002 Catalogue, pg. 58
- 30: Stormcaller (Novel), Chapter 14
- 31: Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pgs. 16-17
- 32: Codex: Thousand Sons (10th Edition), pgs. 58-59
- 33: Codex: Death Guard (9th Edition), pg. 51
- 35: White Dwarf 484, pg. 26-29
- 36: Harrowmaster (Novel):
- 37: Only War: Core Rulebook:
- 38: Dark Heresy: Core Rulebook, pg. 160
- 39: Dark Heresy: Disciples of the Dark Gods:
- 40: Archmagos (Novel), Chapter Eleven
- 41: Dark Heresy Second Edition: Core Rulebook, pg. 138
- 42: Rites of Passage (Novel), 'The Star Lounge & A Matter of Honour
| Thousand Sons Forces | |
|---|---|
| Command | Exalted Sorcerer • Sorcerer • Scarab Occult Sorcerer • Aspiring Sorcerer • Infernal Master • Daemon Prince |
| Elites | Scarab Occult Terminator • Sekhetar • Castellax-Achea Class Robot |
| Troops | Rubicae • Tzaangor • Tzaangor Enlightened • Tzaangor Shaman • Cultists • Thrall Wizard • Mutants |
| Vehicles | Helbrute • Ferrum Infernus Dreadnought • Osiron Dreadnought • Chaos Rhino • Chaos Predator (Infernal Relic Predator) • Chaos Land Raider • Chaos Vindicator • Vulcan |
| Daemon Engines | Defiler • Forgefiend • Maulerfiend • Heldrake • Silver Tower • Fire Lord • Doom Wing |
| Aircraft | Stormbird • Thunderhawk • Storm Eagle • Hell Blade • Hell Talon • Harbinger |
| Daemons | Lord of Change • Herald of Tzeentch • Horror • Flamer • Screamer • Tutelary • Chaos Spawn • Mutalith Vortex Beast |
| Special Characters | Magnus the Red • Ahriman • Kairos Fateweaver |