Slaanesh
From Warhammer 40k
Slaanesh is the Chaos God of lust, excess, decadence, pleasure, perfection, hedonism and painful death. Slaanesh typically appears in an androgynous form in which it is a woman on the right side and a man on the left with two sets of devilish horns growing from its head. It can however assume any form; male, female, hermaphrodite or asexual, but prefers male bodies. Its sacred number is six. It is known as the Prince of Chaos or Prince of Pleasure.
In the name Slaanesh is a corruption of the Chaos term Slaaneth (Slaa meaning "ecstasy" or "pleasure" and Neth meaning "lord" or "prince"; hence, the Prince of Pleasure).
Slaanesh came into existence during the time the Eldar called The Fall. He was born from the Warp-reflection of the decadence of the Eldar. The Birth cry of Slaanesh created the Eye of Terror and slew most Eldar and their gods, except for Khaine, who was dispersed into many pieces, and the Laughing God. Other survivors included the Harlequin, and those Eldar who were very far away from the Eldar Worlds. Slaanesh is served primarily by the Emperor's Children, hedonistic psychopaths who wield unique sonic weaponry in battle.
Slaaneshi daemons include: Daemonettes, feminine creatures whose seductive bodies are at contrast with their grotesque claws and lightning speed; Steeds, lurid snakelike creatures who lash with their prehensile tongues in combative support of their riders; Fiends
, bizarre creatures that are a combination of human, reptile, and
The symbol of Slaanesh combines the conventional symbols for male and female, although it is seldom worn openly by his followers. In its place they often wear items of jewellery 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.
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 death is completely opposed to Slaanesh's principle of a life of unrestricted sensual extremes. Followers of Nurgle and Tzeentch are subject to Slaanesh's usual neutral attitude. - Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness
[edit] Slaanesh and the Eldar
The birth of Slaanesh marked the downfall of the Eldar, who refer to Slaanesh as She or She Who Thirsts referring to Slannesh's constant hunger for their souls. Their home worlds were destroyed by the shock wave, along with many of the craft-worlds created by the most forward seeing among them to escape the disaster. But the destruction of their homes and the death of their brethren was not the only disaster for the Eldar. Slaanesh proceeded to combat the very gods of the Eldar, slaying all but three: Khaine, Cegorach, and Isha, who is held captive in the garden of Nurgle.
Born by the very essence of Eldar being, Slaanesh has fed on the race ever since. When most Eldar die, if no soulstone is present to receive their soul, it is consumed by Slaanesh. The Eldar have taken many steps to defend themselves against the attacks of Slaanesh, including a strict code of "paths" or ways of studying a particular aspect of life or occupation to avoid unbridled seeking of pleasure or knowledge, and Soulstones that shield the souls of the fallen against the predations of Slaanesh.
The enigmatic group of Eldar known as the Harlequins go through what is known only as "The Ritual" to free themselves from this fate, and it is believed they are then under the protection of Cegorach or "The Laughing God" or "The Great Harlequin" (also a title used for a high ranking leader of the Harlequins). The even rarer beings known as the Solitaire, who are alone in their ability to play Slaanesh in Harlequins most rare of dances, is said to already belong to Slaanesh, is considered cursed, although it is also said that when a Solitaire dies, Cegorach will emerge from the Webway to fight Slaanesh for his soul.
The sadistic Dark Eldar do not protect themselves against Slaanesh, and their souls are devoured even as they live. Unlike the Craftworld Eldar, they continued the acts which brought about the creation of Slaanesh. To slow the drain of their souls, they drink the souls of others, prolonging their lives.
| The Major Powers of Chaos | |
| Khorne • Nurgle • Slaanesh • Tzeentch |
