Chaos Cult
From Lexicanum
Chaos Cults are the most dangerous of all those who plot to overthrow the rule of the Imperium from within. All planets and civilisations belonging to the Imperium can harbour Chaos organisations, which themselves are as diverse in practice and membership as is imaginable. From the blood-soaked sacrificial cults of feral worlds to the philosophical secret societies of more advanced worlds, the temptations of Chaos can capture all.
The objective of the Chaos cult is to survive and eventually dominate the society. Mere survival is particularly important on Imperial worlds, where Chaos worship is the greatest of heresies and Inquisitors are always vigilant and ready to wipe out any taint of Chaos.6
Generally clandestine in nature, as discovery could bring with it attention from local Arbites all the way up to the Inquisition, cults often hide behind the front of some form of legitimate organization in their attempt to accumulate local or planetary power, such as trade unions, charitable organizations, accepted religious groups and even local variants of the Imperial cult.
Extreme political organizations make good fronts for cults, as they naturally attract power hungry and mentally unbalanced individuals, which make particularly good material for potential cult members. A very successful organization can gain real political power, even gaining enough power to make it possible for the cult to become the governing body of the planet without having to resort to rebellion6.
After taking root, and as it expands in power and influence, eventually the cult may end up effectively ruling anything from a township to an entire planet. Eventually, an uprising breaks out, either on purpose or because the cult has grown too large and/or unruly to remain secret any longer. At this point, the cult can be expected to summon aid from their Chaotic masters, ranging from incurring daemonic possession to summoning the Traitor Legions. Cults may also be uprising in concert with an invasion of Chaos Marines. The ultimate aim of the cult's uprising is to overthrow the Imperial government and attain direct control of the world. After the conflict, cultists are often taken back into the Eye of Terror where they either join the damned population of a daemon world or are formed up into a Chaos Warlord's armed forces.1,6
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Notable Chaos Cults
Blood Pact
The Blood Pact is a Chaos warband, differing from other such war bands in that they follow a highly disciplined way of life. They can be found in the Sabbat Worlds sector, primarily around Ghourra.2
Children of the Merciful Lord
The Children of the Merciful Lord were responsible for the war on Cordassa.
Infardi
The Infardi were Chaos cultists on the planet Hagia.2
The Lost and the Damned
The The Lost and the Damned are the cult hordes that follow Abaddon the Despoiler. Also in use as a more generic term.4
Serpent Lodge
The Serpent Lodge was the name given to both a group of suspected Chaos cultists and their Temple on the planet of Davin.3
Shriven
The Shriven were once workers on the Forge World of Fortis Binary, however they were corrupted by Chaos. They were described as elephantine, with long, nozzled gas masks sewn into their faces.2
Sons of Sek
The Sons of Sek are a chaos warband, structured upon the Blood Pact and loyal to Magester Anakwanar Sek. Their eventual purpose is to lead a coup against the forces of Urlock Gaur, giving Sek command of the chaos forces in the Sabbat Worlds.
Vraksian Renegade Militia
The Vraksian Renegade Militia are a motley assortment of Planetary Defense Force troopers, garrisoned Guard auxilia from the planet Vraks, indentured Labor Corpsmen, frateris militia, and local soldiers, who rebelled against the Imperium whilst under the sway of heretic Cardinal Xaphan.5
Sources
- 1:Chapter Approved 2001
- 2:Gaunt's Ghosts (Novel Series)
- 3:Horus Heresy (Novel Series)
- 4:Codex: Eye of Terror
- 5:Imperial Armour Volume Five - The Siege of Vraks - Part One
- 6:Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned, pp. 168–172
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