Thommy H:
Well, not really. Khorne is not exactly a million miles from Hashut, but this army is kind of �?oout of the blue�?� in another way anyway. See, I always wondered what the definition of �?oveteran gamer�?� was, but now I think I may have figured it out: I was always amazed by an old Mike Walker article in White Dwarf in which he claimed to have raided his bitz box for beastmen and managed to amass 3,000 points worth as a result. How can you just have a 3,000 point army sitting in your bitz box?
Now I think I know how he feels. I haven�?Tt quite gotten that far yet, but this is decent 1,000+ point force, built entirely from bitz box contents. The story is that, not too long after the original multi-part Chaos Warriors came out, I decided I wanted an army of them, so I went and bought them (well, my Dad bought them for me…) all in one go. As I�?Tm sure we all know, that�?Ts the death-knell for any force right there: you can never paint up models when you have a whole army resplendent in grey and silver staring you in the face.
So they waited…and waited…and waited…
Now, nine years later (!) they�?Tve realised their destiny. I give you…
The Destroyer Cult
When the massive Khornate warband of Haargroth the Blooded One was scattered after the Storm of Chaos, many splinter warbands were unleashed upon The Empire. One of these would eventually become known as the Destroyer Cult, and it briefly cut a swathe across the southern Empire as it made a direct route for the Grey Mountains, and the land of Bretonnia beyond. The reasons for this remain a mystery.
Xavier Fureur, Exalted Champion of Khorne
Xavier Fureur�?Ts tale is a long and bloody one. He was once a knight of Bretonnia some five centuries before the present day, and a bloodthirsty and arrogant hunter of Orcs and other foul beasts in his domain. He was renowned for his short temper and lust for battle, which was not a problem until, having rid his domain of invaders, he turned his attention to tourneys. Xavier was disgraced when, in the Mêlée event, he managed to kill three other knights in a wanton display of savagery. Stripped of his lands and title, he went into exile, become a robber knight on the highways of The Empire. Eventually he found his way to the cursed ruins of Mordheim where he found employment amongst the warbands that scoured the City of the Damned as a mercenary. He delved deeper and deeper into the city, searching for stronger opponents and bloodier battles, until he was foolish enough to challenge the Shadowlord himself �?" Xavier, mighty as he was by this time, was easily defeated and cast into the streets to be picked apart by the Possessed. However, as the shambling monstrosities surrounded him, Xavier did not feel fear or regret, but only unreasoning rage �?" his shattered body could not stand up to fight, and this filled him with incredible fury, for he longed only to fight and slay. His roars of rage were ignored by his attackers, but they were heard by one entity, deep in the Realm of Chaos: Khorne, the Blood God. He offered Xavier the opportunity to fight endless battles, if he would only do it in His name, and the former knight readily agreed. From that day forth, he served Khorne, taking skulls for the skull throne first across the Old World, and then north, into the Chaos Wastes. He joined the armies of Archaon during the Storm of Chaos, but was forced to flee when they were defeated. Xavier took this opportunity to return to Bretonnia, intent on settling old scores…
Forgive the preamble, but I just got carried away thinking about this guy�?Ts backstory. I wanted to tie him into my other armies and models as much as I could. More will come as he fights battles and perhaps meets the Black Host of Lord Zhurduz… For now, he�?Ts just an Exalted Champion on a Deamonic Mount with the Mark, Collar and Axe of Khorne. The Khlassic Khorne Khombination, as I like to think of it. The model is simply the old Chaos Lord model with his arm replaced by an old Chaos Knight�?Ts lance arm, which has then had the hand removed and replaced with the axe-hand of a Heresy miniatures demon (which may also make an appearance in this army somewhere down the line).
Tharris the Thrice-Cursed
Tharris was once one of the Burgomeisters of Mordheim, but he turned his back on his people when the comet hit and became the Magister of a Possessed warband. He survived, his life sustained by unnatural Chaos magic, for several hundred years, but fled the city before Magnus the Pious destroyed it after the Great War against Chaos. Centuries later, Tharris emerged again, this time aiding the followers of the Dark Master on Albion, again fleeing when they were defeated, and finally siding with the daemon legions of Be�?Tlakor in the Storm of Chaos. Tharris has therefore served the mighty daemon prince on three separate occasions, hence his title. After the Storm of Chaos, Xavier came across Tharris nearly dead in a ditch. He recognised him from his battles in Mordheim as one of his ancient enemies, and so it amused him to offer the Sorcerer the chance to keep his life if he served him. Tharris is little more than a slave in Xavier�?Ts retinue, but it is better than the brutal death he would doubtless receive if he was left to the men of The Empire. Tharris constantly plots his return to grace at the side of his master, Be�?Tlakor.
Including a wizard isn�?Tt exactly Khosher, but I need some magical protection, don�?Tt I? For this reason, Tharris�?Ts standard equipment is two dispel scrolls. He will use Shadow magic, as befits a former servant of Be�?Tlakor, the Master of Shadows.
The Furious
The Furious are led into battle by Krond, a legendary Champion of Khorne in the Chaos Wastes, but who has never ventured south and so has done little to impress the Lord of Battles over the centuries. Xavier has offered him the chance to take the skulls of non-Chaos worshippers and Krond reluctantly agreed (once it was all explained to him in words of one syllable).
Ten Chaos Warriors. Full command. Mark of Khorne. War Banner. Doesn�?Tt get much simpler than that. You can see on the bases that the 25mm size has given me the chance to do cooler stuff with the lava, and it all links up to form little rivers and pools. This also helps me remember where each model goes in the unit, as these old figures are a real bitch to rank up. The standard is Hellcannon parts and a Chaos Knight lance (since they can�?Tt have those anymore).
The Hateful
Lorr leads this bloodthirsty unit armed with deadly halberds.
Not much to say about this unit �?" ten more Warriors, this time with Halberds.
The Enraged
The Enraged are Xavier�?Ts personal retinue, led by Hund, a mighty Champion. They are the Chosen of Khorne, and carry the Banner of Wrath which crackles with infernal energy.
Yeah, no messing around here. Chosen Knights of Khorne �?" I believe in specialisation: if you want a knife, you buy the sharpest. If you want a couch, you buy the comfiest. If you want Knights of Chaos, you give �?~em the Mark of Khorne and make �?~em Chosen. Four attacks and 1+ Armour Save? Yes please.