Slaanesh

Slaanesh is a deity that features in Warhammer.

Biography

Fantasy

Slaanesh was a powerful deity who stood as the youngest member of the Ruinous Powers of the four Chaos Gods.

40,000

Within this setting, Slaanesh was not one of the original Chaos Gods but was born many years later. His origins were tied to that of the Eldar race who at the height of their civilization ruled much of the galaxy. In that time, the Eldar empire began to engage in acts of extreme decadence and indulgence where they entertained more baser emotions. As a strong psychic species, their emotions took form and as a collective race it began to manifest into the Chaos God that embodied the traits of excess and pleasure. Some among their race could see the danger their actions caused but were unable to stop their kin thus many decided to go down different paths. Some went to outlying colonies to survive the upcoming destruction whilst others boarded great ships that departed into space. Eventually, the Eldar's actions culminated in an event known as the Fall of the Eldar where by the core of their empire the birth cry of the god Slaanesh occurred thus consuming entire regions of space to form the Eye of Terror.

Overview

Personality and attributes

Slaanesh is described as taking many forms, be they female or male, even hermaphroditic or androgynous. In any case, Slaanesh is always unnaturally beautiful, and irresistible to mortals when viewed by them. Slaanesh is generally regarded as being male.

Slaanesh grew from a single survivalist emotion: pleasure. Slaanesh is the Chaos god of excess, hedonism, pride, aestheticism, self indulgence, sensualism.

Slaanesh is said to favor the number six. Slaanesh is opposed by the Chaos God Khorne. Slaaneshi act inwardly by enjoying every experience and every act; whereas Khornates act outwardly through rage-fuelled violence. Khorne detests Slaanesh's decadence, where Slaanesh detests Khorne as crude and deeply unsophisticated. In both game settings, this relationship affects the armies dedicated to either god.

The correct adjective to indicate individuals and events related to this Chaos god is "Slaaneshi". Of all the Gods of the Ruinous Powers, Slaanesh alone stands perfect - long-limbed, beautiful and elegant with hauntingly perfect features that no one, mortal or otherwise, could resist.

Powers and abilities

The wand serves as receptacle of much of Slaanesh's awesome power and is the Chaos deity's greatest treasure.

The Daemons available to Slaanesh's armies include:

• Daemonettes : Hermaphroditic feminine-looking creatures whose seductive bodies are at contrast with their crablike claws. In the former editions their features are white, milky skin, bald heads, female breasts (sometimes several sets), narrow eyes, pointed teeth, and occasionally, horns. Their legs end in bird like three-taloned claws, and they may have long scything limbs in place of one or both arms. They are quick, attractive, and fearsome. The more recent editions of Warhammer (both Fantasy and 40K) have seen changes to the Daemonettes; they are now more clearly female, with writhing, tentacle-like hair. Rather than the crablike claws of old, their talons are sickle-shaped, and as a whole, they appear far more attractive and seductive than their previous counterparts, so much so the in both Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 there are tales of soldiers refusing to fight when they catch a glimpse of their beauty.
• Keepers of Secrets : hermaphroditic greater daemons of Slaanesh, are huge and powerful creatures whose very presence is capable of bringing the bravest warrior to his knees in anguish and ecstasy. They typically have bovine faces, 1 female breast and four arms: two which end with human-like hands and two which end with large crab-like claws. A Keeper of Secrets is a very powerful foe in close combat.
• Mounts of Slaanesh : fast creatures with elongated tubular snouts (vaguely resembling that of a seahorse) containing prehensile, poisonous tongues and occasionally fangs; they bear a fleshy crest along the upper half of their body, and three or four pairs of breasts. Larger than the steed of Slaanesh, these creatures are ridden by characters.
• Fiends of Slaanesh : hermaphroditic grotesque insect/reptilian looking creatures bearing resemblance to an unholy combination of reptile, scorpion and human. They have 6 breasts in a row, Their barbed tails are poisoned and they exude a musky scent capable of dazing and disorienting foes.
• Steeds of Slaanesh : hermaphroditic bipedal smooth-skinned creatures, similar to a Velociraptor missing the front limbs. They have heads similar to the mount of Slaanesh, though instead of a crest they may have a tentacle-like "mane".

Slaanesh's followers seek pleasure in every experience, and quickly become inured to more mundane things, including sounds and colours; thus they frequently wear garish, brightly coloured armour, or clothing which is extravagantly decorated. In Warhammer Fantasy, worshippers of Slaanesh are known for their complete lack of fear, as they see losing a battle as a new experience to be enjoyed.

Notes

• Slaanesh was created by Games Workshop and featured in the setting of Warhammer along with its spin-off universes.

Appearances

• Warhammer Fantasy:
• Warhammer 40,000:
• Warhammer: Age of Sigmar:

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