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<div align=right>{{Chaos God|Slaanesh|Lust, pleasure, pain|6<ref>Index Astartes I, p. 26.</ref>|Pleasure seeker|Khorne|Keeper of Secrets|Daemonette|Fiend|Mount of Slaanesh}}</div>
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<div align=right>{{Chaos God|Slaanesh|Lust, pleasure|6<ref>Index Astartes I, p. 26.</ref>|Pleasure seeker|Khorne|Keeper of Secrets|Daemonette|Fiend|Mount of Slaanesh}}</div>
  
  

Revision as of 01:35, 7 April 2010

Name


Background

Slaanesh is the Chaos God of lust, excess, pleasure, perfection and hedonism. Slaanesh typically appears in a form which is female on the right side and male on the left with two sets of horns rising from its flowing golden hair. It can however assume any form; male, female, hermaphrodite or asexual, but prefers male bodies. Its sacred number is six.

The symbol of Slaanesh combines the conventional symbols for male and female

It is also known by a multitude of titles such as the Prince of Chaos, Prince of Excess, Prince of Pleasure and Lord of Dark Delights. To the Eldar, who do not name the god, she is referred to only by the Lovecraftian titles of She Who Thirsts, She Who Is Not Named, The Great Enemy, The Great Serpent, etc.

The name Slaanesh derives from Slaaneth - the god's name in the language of Chaos, (Slaa meaning "ecstasy", "pleasure", etc, Neth meaning "lord of", "master of", or "prince of"; hence, the Prince of Pleasure). The correct adjective of things associated with Slaanesh (such as its worshippers) is "Slaaneshi".

Slaanesh was fully born at the moment of the Fall of the Eldar. The birth of Slaanesh created the Eye of Terror and slew most of the Eldar except those far enough away from the Eldar homeworlds to escape. This event also slew the Eldar Gods except for Khaine, who was shattered into many pieces, the Laughing God, Cegorach, and Isha, who was according to one Craftworld taken captive by the Chaos god Nurgle.4

Rivalries

Slaanesh has a neutral attitude to many of the gods of Chaos, and is generally too caught up in his own pleasures to be interested in alliances and co-operation. Particular enemies are the followers of Khorne, whose belief in pain and death is completely opposed to Slaanesh's principle of a life of unrestricted pleasure. Followers of Nurgle and Tzeentch are subject to Slaanesh's usual neutral attitude.

Followers of Slaanesh

Slaanesh's symbol is rarely worn openly by its followers. They instead often wear items of jewelery bearing erotic motifs. Followers dress in robes which are often opened to leave the right side of the chest uncovered, a requirement of many of the rituals involved in his worship. Pastel and electric shades are the chief colours, although white is often used as well. These colours are also sometimes carried over into everyday wear, although they may be modified to fit in with current fashions. Regardless of any considerations, all Slaanesh followers wear garb of sensuously high quality.1

Slaanesh is most notably followed by the Emperor's Children Chaos Marines, hedonistic psychopaths who wield unique sonic weaponry in battle. They, like other Chaos Space Marines, fled to the Eye of Terror after the death of Horus at the hands of the Emperor. Over the thousands of years since the Horus Heresy, a few other Space Marine chapters have inevitably fallen to the seductions of Slaanesh and become renegades. Among these are the Violators, The Flawless Host and the Angels of Ecstasy.

Daemons of Slaanesh

Greater Daemons

The greatest of Slaanesh's daemonic servants are the Keepers of Secrets, huge, bestial and ugly creatures exuding an intoxicating musk.

Daemons

The common Daemons of Slaanesh are the Daemonettes, creatures feminine on one side, with hugely grotesque claws.

Daemonic Beasts and Steeds

Mounts of Slaanesh are the Steeds of Slaanesh, lurid snakelike creatures who lash with their prehensile tongues. They are often ridden by Daemonettes, as well as gifted to favoured Champions.

The Palace of Slaanesh

File:Palace of Slaanesh.jpg
The Palace of Slaanesh

The Palace of Slaanesh is Slaanesh's realm within the warp. Those that dare his realm risk becoming trapped in its warped delights for eternity. The Dark Prince's realm is divided into six domains, arranged in concentric rings about the Palace of Pleasure. The palace itself can only be reached by passing through all six domains. The circle of Avidity plays upon the interloper's greed. The circle of Gluttony is next; it plays upon the intruders desire for lavish foods and wines. The third circle is the circle of Carnality, where the perfect desires of the heart reside; testing to the extreme the individuals desires. The fourth circle is the circle of Paramountcy, where the traveller is greeted by roars of adulation, here the intruder is tempted with absolute power over others. The penultimate circle is the circle of Vainglory. the traveller is presented with his ideal self-image, and if he feels but an ounce of pride, for eternity will this circle be his prison. The last circle is the most perilous, it is a heavenly place, within which resides a seemingly perfect environment. Every second that passes fills the intruder with bliss, but to rest and enjoy the pleasure for a single moment results in falling into a coma, and eventually dying in idle bliss. One may walk the circles for centuries, but cannot for a second give into his ultimate desires for he will fall. If one is able to successfully pass through the circles he comes before the palace and Slaanesh himself. It is impossible for mortals to look upon the god without instantly losing their soul, for all who see it become willing slaves to every whim of the Dark Prince.4

Sources



Chaos
Gods of Chaos KhorneTzeentchSlaaneshNurgleMalice
Chaos Space Marines Traitor LegionsDaemonkinArmouryWarbands
Daemons Daemon PrinceGreater DaemonLesser DaemonDaemonic BeastsDaemon EnginesDaemonic HeraldChaos Daemon ArmouryDaemon WeaponsDaemonic Gifts
The Lost and the Damneds Chaos CultTraitor GuardMutantsBeastmenRogue PsykerGellerpox InfectedArmoury
The Traitor Primarchs Alpharius/OmegonAngronFulgrimHorusLorgarKonrad CurzeMagnus the RedMortarionPerturabo
Notable Characters AbaddonAhrimanBlue ScribesChangelingEpidemiusFabius BileHorticulous SlimuxKairos FateweaverKu'GathTyphusKhârnLuciusLufgt HuronBe'lakorM'karThe MasqueRotigusShalaxi HelbaneSkarbrandSkulltakerSyll'EsskeVashtorr
Other Traitor Titan LegionsChaos KnightsDark MechanicumChaos Space FleetChaos VehiclesChaos ArtefactsGreat RiftEye of TerrorMaelstromWarp