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Khârn

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Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Chaos Space Marine; for the other uses of Khârn, see Khârn (disambiguation).
Khârn the Betrayer[10]

"KILL! MAIM! BURN! KILL! MAIM! BURN!"[10]

Khârn, also known as Khârn the Betrayer, is a Chaos Space Marine of the World Eaters Legion. Khârn is the greatest of all the Champions of Khorne, second only to the Daemon Prince Angron in power. He is the avatar of Khorne, embodying that god's indiscriminate rage and bloodlust.

History

Early Career

Khârn before the Horus Heresy[8]

Khârn was born on Terra and inducted into the War Hounds Legion. Trained on Bodt by the War Hounds Master of Neophytes Gruner[21], Khârn eventually rose to become Captain of the 8th Assault Company.[2]

When the War Hounds' primarch, Angron, was found, the entire Legion rejoiced, but their elation turned to horror when their progenitor rejected them and disavowed any interest in joining the Emperor's forces. After forcibly teleporting the primarch aboard their Battle Barge, as the Emperor had ordered, the War Hounds were forced to keep him imprisoned in a cargo hold, where he killed every Marine officer who attempted to treat with him. While the rest of the battle-barge's command staff hovered in indecision, Khârn - the next ranking officer - was the only one who volunteered to try next.[2]

Angron attacked Khârn as soon as he entered, and came dangerously close to killing him, but Khârn kept his composure in such contrast to the previous officers that Angron was reluctantly impressed; he swore to Angron that his refusal to fight back was not cowardice, but rather the complete awe and obedience which all War Hounds held for their primarch. He also managed to convince Angron that, if Angron was hungry for war, then the entire Legion was at his command, and the Crusade offered a whole galaxy's worth of enemies to slaughter.[2]

Khârn succeeded where the other Captains had failed, and led his primarch to the bridge of the ship to assume command of his Legion.[2] Becoming Angron's Equerry, Khârn was able to convince Angron to rejoin the Legion after he abandoned them for nearly two years.[19] Seeking to gain his fathers respect and emulate his strength, Khârn later volunteered to have the Butcher's Nails installed into his brain, which at the time had a 100% fatality rate. However, Khârn survived the process, being the very first World Eater to endure the Nails and earn Angron's acknowledgment as his son.[19] During the subsequent Ghenna Massacre, Khârn and World Eaters equipped with the Butcher's Nails put down a revolt by his old comrade Mago. After a duel, Khârn slew Mago, but not before him declaring that Angron's path would lead the World Eaters to damnation.[19a]

Crusade with the World Eaters

During the Crusade, Khârn served as Angron's equerry, often acting as a voice of reason that cooled his primarch's bloody rages (a surprising contrast with the person Khârn was destined to become). Like the other World Eaters, he underwent extensive surgery, increasing his aggression such that he now finds joy only in killing the enemy. His love of killing is so great that he has actually had a kill counter installed in the lens of his helmet. This kill counter was made from arcane technology and was a gift from the Warmaster Horus himself.[6]

Shortly before the Battle of Isstvan III, Khârn had gained a reputation as a brilliant, but unstable warrior. Encountering him aboard the Vengeful Spirit, Nathaniel Garro reflected that some of the rumors surrounding the World Eater involved atrocities that even the most battle-hardened Death Guards found hard to stomach.[4] Through his dueling matches and joint campaigning with other Astartes, Khârn established friendships with Argel Tal, Garviel Loken, Sigismund, and Nassir Amit.[14]

The Heresy Begins

Khârn during the Horus Heresy[28]

During the infighting on Isstvan III, Khârn was believed killed in action while fighting Garviel Loken of the Luna Wolves, a loyalist determined to stop Horus. Khârn engaged in close combat with Loken, only to be thrown against the dozer blades of a nearby vehicle, impaling his chest. It was believed that the blow was fatal, but this proved false.[3] His mangled body was discovered by one of the members of his company, Skane. Khârn's friend, Apothecary Kargos, subsequently saved the Centurion's life.[12a]

Khârn, and a squadron of World Eaters, were later dispatched to Prospero to retrieve the Moon Wolf, a sigil gifted to Magnus The Red by Horus, to prevent any other Psykers from using it to contact him, as Magnus had done in his attempt to prevent the Heresy. As an aside, Khârn also had a personal objective of locating 'mind-healing' devices of the Thousand Sons. While there he interrogated Captain Menes Kalliston of the Thousand Sons, captured after a brief battle with the World Eaters. Captain Kalliston admitted that the devices Khârn was searching for had all been destroyed but offered to use his Athanean Psyker powers to salve the guilt and pain of Kharn's mind. Decrying himself as beyond saving, Khârn rebuked Kalliston's offer and, after a brief struggle, beat the Thousand Sons Captain to death.[9]

Khârn later takes part in the Shadow Crusade, forming a friendship with Word Bearer Captain Argel Tal. Tal even proved able to calm Kharn, which led to Erebus becoming worried that his destiny as the Betrayer would be foiled. After Erebus arranged the death of Tal, an enraged Khârn nearly slew the Word Bearer Chaplain. Following the events on Nuceria and the transformation of Angron into a Daemonic entity, Khârn was the first one whom the Primarch spoke to. Angron ordered Khârn to massacre the slaves on the lower decks of the Conqueror and build him a skull throne.[12] Khârn and Lotara Sarrin later put down a mutiny by members of the World Eaters and Serfs who wished to escape the increasingly corrupted Conqueror.[18]

Following the transformation of Angron, the World Eaters went on to mindlessly slaughter any world they came across. Khârn accompanied Angron throughout this, and continued to insist that the Primarch was dying. Angron and his Legion refused all summons by Horus to muster at Ullanor in preparation for the drive on Terra. This eventually caused the Iron Warriors under Perturabo himself to track the World Eaters to Deluge. On the world, they found the population butchered and erected into a giant mound. At the top of it stood Kharn, who pleaded with Pertuarbo and his forces to leave before it was too late. Soon enough, Angron led an attack of World Eaters and Khornate Daemons against the Iron Warriors. Eventually the two sides came to an agreement to leave for Ullanor following the arrival of the Ultramarines. Khârn accompanied Angron to Ullanor and then to Terra.[17]

The Battle of Terra

By the time of the Siege of Terra, Khârn was barely able to hold back the urge to murder anything around him, even valued comrades such as Lotara Sarrin. After hearing that Mortarion's Death Guard would instead be the first to assault Terra, Angron fell into a rage and massacred all he came across within the bowels of the Conqueror. Lotara Sarrin feared that he would murder the Tech-Priest's attending to the vessels reactor, risking a catastrophic meltdown. This forced Khârn to confront Angron within the ship, where the Primarch revealed he knew of the 8th Captain's ultimate destiny and wished to supplant him as the Chosen of Khorne. The two battled, with Khârn being little match for his gene-father. However before Angron could finish him, Khârn placed a teleport homer on the Primarch which transported him to the shifting maze within the nearby Night Lords flagship Nightfall within, Angron became trapped and spent his time battling the many traps within the maze.[20]

Khârn next appeared leading an attack from a Spartan Assault Tank on the Lion's Gate Spaceport, though the attack faltered in the face of the Emperor's psychic shield of the Imperial Palace.[22] During the renewed assault on the Spaceport, Khârn fought alongside Abaddon, Kroeger, and Zardu Layak. Almost completely feral from the Butcher's Nails and influence of Khorne, Khârn penetrated deep into the Imperial lines in order to battle Sigismund. The two former allies dueled, and while Sigismund was the superior swordsman he could not match the Khornate power swelling through Kharn. Sigismund was only saved thanks to Rogal Dorn, who swatted away the berserk Khârn like an insect. Khârn was only saved from death due to a rescue launched by Abaddon.[22a] Later Khârn and Angron both led a massive World Eaters assault on the Eternity Wall Spaceport. As the Port fell, Khârn slew Sisters of Silence Commander Jenetia Krole without even realizing what he had killed.[23]

During the drive into the Inner Palace, Khârn was at the forefront of every assault. However he was eventually confronted by the Imperial Fists First Captain and his old sparring partner Sigismund. In the battle that followed not even Kharn's Warp-infused might could best the Imperial Fist, who much to his frustration refused to speak or acknowledge the World Eater. Finally Khârn was struck down by Sigismund, but before the final blow was struck the World Eater Captain remarked that even he was not as damaged as the embittered Sigismund had become. Sigismund then slew Khârn upon the soil of his original homeworld.[24] His corpse was later discovered by Kargos who ordered his comrades to bring Khârn back to the Conqueror.[29c] After this point, an apparition of Khârn stalked the halls of the Conqueror alongside the wraith of his long-time comrade Lotara.[29a] When Lotara's ghost finally began to realize that her physical self had mutated into an undead monstrosity, the apparition of Khârn warned her not to look until eventually admitting that the monster was the true Lotara. Afterward, both spirits faded away.[29c]

Coma, return, and Battle of Skalathrax

After Horus' defeat and their retreat from Terra, the World Eaters discovered that by some dark miracle, Khârn still lived. Whether Khorne himself breathed life back into the berserker's body or whether the relentless clamour of battle revived his blood-lusting spirit remains a mystery.[1a] Regardless, Khârn initially remained comatose and did not rouse as the World Eaters scattered during the Great Scouring.[30b] The Legion tore itself apart without him or Angron to guide them.[30a] Even though many World Eaters lost hope that Khârn would ever reawake, Captain Dreagher of the 9th Company firmly believed that his old comrade would eventually heal to lead the entire Legion once more. Thus, Dreagher took Khârn's body onto his ship, the Defiant, where the World Eaters built a sort of shrine for him and tried to reawaken him for years.[30a][30b] Khârn eventually regained his senses, but contrary to Dreagher's hope the 8th Captain would further doom his Legion instead of guiding them.[30a]

When Khârn returned, fully healed, he led the remains of the World Eaters against a much larger Emperor's Children force at Skalathrax. During the battle, Khârn would become both legendary and infamous amongst the Legion. In what was dubbed the Night of Madness, Khârn turned on his brothers and took up a Flamer, running through the World Eaters lines and burning them from cover in an effort to drive them forward to victory. The flames quickly spread into an uncontrollable inferno and those who sought to stop Khârn were struck down by the warrior. The actions proved to finally break the World Eaters as a Legion and they tore themselves apart.[25] Because of this, the World Eaters were completely scattered into small, individual war bands, and have seldom, if ever, fought as a unified Legion since then. Khârn's actions at Skalathrax earned him the sobriquet "The Betrayer", which he has carried ever since.[1a]

Later Actions

Khârn the Betrayer wielding Gorechild[7]

Since Skalathrax, Khârn has become the unstoppable and bloody avatar of Khorne and has survived the bloodiest battles to the current age. He never came so close to death as during the Siege of Terra.[1a] He hunted through the Eye of Terror, slaughtering any worthy enough to be killed in Khorne's name. One of the famous battles at this time was his fighting with Zarghan Ironfist.[11] However, Khârn has taken countless lives and while Human skulls are the most desirable he is known to have slain every almost every kind of xenos and daemon. Hive Tyrants, Necron Overlords, Autarchs, and Warbosses have all met their end at Kharn's hand. Despite his crazed nature, Khârn will still offer his services to brave Chaos warlords. However, many are reluctant to call upon him, for his allies are often as at much risk as his enemies.[13]

Khârn has gathered a substantial following (for unclear reasons) as he has slaughtered his way across the galaxy. His band of Berzerkers and other devotees of Khorne has become known as the Butcherhorde.[15]

During the Thirteenth Black Crusade, his wrath was unleashed upon the Imperium as he, alongside a few of the most insane Khorne Berserkers, were loosed on the Emperor's warriors flocking to the defence of Cadia.[Needs Citation] During the Crusade he was a key Chaos commander during the Diamor Campaign, where he led his Butcherhorde against the Blood Angels, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Imperial Titans on the planet of Amethal.[15]

After the opening of the Great Rift, Khârn sensed the presence of Saint Celestine on the planet of Tsadrekha and he headed there to claim her skull for Khorne. After carving a path in the Imperial defences, the berserker found and fought the Living Saint, killing her in a duel.[16]

Following the return of Angron in the Arks of Omen Campaign, Khârn reappeared, however briefly, at his Primarch's side to battle the Imperium. During the Battle of Malak, he led a boarding action against the Imperial Battleship Honour of Terra which slew the commander of Indomitus Crusade Fleet Quartus, Trincus Abconcis.[27]

Weapons and Abilities

Khârn is one of the most deadly yet unstable close combat fighters in the galaxy. He is just as likely to attack his own allies in a berserk fury as he is the enemy.[1a] Originally, Khârn wielded the Chain Axe known as The Cutter, though he was a master of all types of weaponry.[26] Today, Khârn wields a Plasma pistol and the ancient chainaxe known as Gorechild[1a] (which, along with its twin Gorefather, was wielded by Angron himself during the Heresy[5]), rimmed with the teeth of a Mica Dragon[1a]. Gorechild is able to tear through armour, flesh and bone with ease.[Needs Citation]

As Khorne's greatest champion, Khârn enjoys the Blessing of the Blood God, which renders him immune to the effects of psychic powers.[1a] In addition, since he has become Daemonically corrupted Khârn exudes a blood mist wherever he walks. This mist allows for the manifestation of Daemonic creatures and can drive lesser foes to madness.[16a]

Images

See also

Sources

Uncited


World Eaters Forces
Command Chaos LordDaemon PrinceMaster of ExecutionsButcher-Surgeon
Elites & Monsters Chaos TerminatorsExalted EightboundChaos Spawn
Troops Khorne BerzerkersEightbound
The Lost and the Damned JakhalsBloodgorsOgryn Berserker
Vehicles & Daemon Engines Chaos Dreadnought (HelbruteBerzerkerContemptorFerrum Infernus) • RhinoPredatorChaos Land RaiderVindicatorDefilerForgefiendMaulerfiendBlood SlaughtererBrass ScorpionLord of Skulls
Aircraft HeldrakeThunderhawkStormbirdStorm Eagle
Special Characters AngronKharnInvocatus


Chaos Space Marine Forces
Command Chaos LordExalted ChampionSorcerer LordDaemon PrinceDark Commune (Cult DemagogueMindwitchIconrachBlessed Blades)
Specialists Sorcerer (Balefire Acolyte) • WarpsmithDark ApostleMaster of PossessionMaster of ExecutionLord DiscordantWarsmithApothecaryInfernus Abomination
Troops Chaos Space MarinesHavocsChosenChaos TerminatorsPossessed (Greater PossessedAnointed) • Khorne BerzerkersPlague MarinesNoise MarinesRubric MarinesObliterators (Mutilators) • Dark DiscipleShrivetalonButcherCultists (Accursed MutantTorments) • Chaos SpawnFallen
Fast Attack BikersRaptorsWarp Talons
Chaos Dreadnoughts HelbruteFerrum Infernus DreadnoughtContemptor DreadnoughtSonic DreadnoughtBerserker DreadnoughtHellforged Leviathan DreadnoughtDeredeo Dreadnought
Vehicles & Daemon Engines RhinoPredatorInfernal Relic PredatorVindicatorLand RaiderLand Raider ProteusLand Raider AchillesLand Raider Hades DiabolusRelic SicaranSicaran VenatorMaulerfiendForgefiendDefilerBrass ScorpionBlood SlaughtererDecimatorBlight DroneKytanPlague HulkVenomcrawlerWhirlwind Scorpius
Heavy Vehicles SpartanFellbladeTyphonCerberusFalchionMastodonLord of SkullsDeath WheelPlaguereaperPlague Centurion
Aircraft HeldrakeStormbirdThunderhawkStorm EagleFire RaptorHell BladeHell TalonHarbingerDreadclawKharybdis
Summoned Greater DaemonsLesser DaemonsDaemonic Beasts
Special Characters Abaddon the DespoilerKharn the BetrayerTyphusAhrimanHuron BlackheartFabius BileCypherHaarken Worldclaimer



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