Accursed Cultist
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This article is about the Chaos Troop Type; for the Night Lords Warband, see Torments (Warband). |
Accursed Cultist are Chaos Cultists who are heavily mutated by Chaos.[1] Whether born of rituals, experimentation, or the predation of Daemons, these abberations are herded into battle as shock troops, their tainted flesh regenerating grievous wounds with unnatural vigour. Once they reach close quarters, Mutants flail and lash at the enemy with claws or tendrils.[2]
Contents
Overview
During arcane rituals, the most devoted among a Chaos Cult have evil symbols carved into their flesh or tattooed onto their skin. Should the correct words of invocation be said in bottle, these icons appear to draw empyric power to them, which twists the flesh of the Devotee and horrifically mutates them.[3b]
Accursed followers of Chaos are "blessed" by the gods with horrifying mutations. Wings, horns and claws are a few examples of what "gifts" a Mutant might receive, along with reptilian skin or tentacles. All of these grant Mutants formidable abilities on the battlefield, which they use to great effect against the enemies of the Chaos Gods.[3b]
Mutants
Accursed Cultist Mutants are the first step of mutation a Chaos Cultist will go through.[1]
Whether engaged in unholy rituals, exposed to tainted artefacts, lashed with the empyric powers of Mindwitches or struck by the malefic blessings of Demagogues, Cultists typically begin to show the deformities of flesh that their calling makes them heir to.[3a]
Not all Chaos Mutants among the Cults were unmarked, many who might otherwise desire to be loyal servants of Terra are cursed, hunted and driven out of their communities due to their appearance. Often the only acceptance they can find is in the arms of a Chaos Cult. Many mutations are painful, debilitating or otherwise detrimental to the Mutant's efforts to live.[3a]
Torments
Accursed Cultist Torments are Chaos Cultists, whose bodies have been twisted beyond recognition by dark rituals and daemonic influence.[3]
There are almost limitless ways that these abominations can come to be.[3b]
One is trough the influence of a Mindwitch or Demagogue, who writes depraved prayers upon the flayed skin of Mutants, then daemons are summoned and bound into their mortal bodies.[3b] Many of these possessions are incomplete, with the daemon not gaining full control over the mortal Cultist. This is often intentional, as parchments that bear arcane sigils are attached by the Demagogue as a means of exerting a modicum of control over the daemons inside.[3a]
Another is Mutants who were constantly exposed to the taint of their worship, drawing the loathsome attention of daemons.[3a]
Images
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: Revealed – Heretic Astartes Revel in the Blessings of the Chaos Gods (Posted on 04/05/22) (Last accessed on 4 May 22)
- 2: Games Workshop Accursed Cultists (last accessed 16/2/2023)
- 3: Kill Team: Ashes of Faith manual
