#Realm Of Chaos

[vintagerpg]

Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned (1990) is the second, much delayed companion to Slaves to Darkness. It takes the same overstuffed, gruesomely illustrated approach to the two remaining ruinous powers of Chaos: Nurgle and Tzeentch. That thoroughly horrific cover is by Les Edwards, because of course it is. You might think the roster of interior artists slightly diminished thanks to the lack of work by Russ Nicholson and Ian Miller. That is not the case. While I do miss their distinctive styles and what they could have lent to the book, I think this volume is more visually impressive on the whole, a really overwhelmingly grim achievement.

A couple things of interest here beyond the awesome art and the details on the two more interesting Powers (if you didn’t know, this is the definitive, objective ranking: the best is Tzeentch, followed by Nurgle, then Slaanesh, then that ding-dong edgelord Khorn). First is in-universe. I think it is actually no longer the case, but at this point in time, the ruinous powers were thought constructs assembled out of the residual desires of human souls that pass through Chaos; this lends them a surprising complexity. They are entities made up of extremes, dominated by negative impulses, but with positives shining through occasionally, like the way Nurgle comes off as caring, or Khorne honorable, or Tzeentch inquisitive. It makes the allure of Chaos, so often characterized by horror and mutation, somewhat more understandable.

Second, these are recent reprints of the books, available only at Warhammer World in Nottingham. I had originals at one point, but honestly the binding are so fragile (and they command such steep prices) that it made much more sense to have a friend in Nottingham pick up a set and mail them to me (many thanks, Ruth!). If you want these books, I highly suggest making your own Nottingham friends.

[trve-grimdark]

Chaos Renegades

(Tony Ackland)

[eva-destruction]

Flamer boy

[reavercide2]

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Concept Art, Nemeroth & Chosen of Nemeroth

[trollbite]

khorngor!

[segersgia]

It is lovely to see yet again in the year of our twin-lords Gork & Mork 2023, that Games Workshop yet again confirms that both AoS and 40k are connected through the Warp.

Now... Go nuts with this information!

Skaven in 40k! Vashtorr in AoS! Genestealers in Blood Bowl! Dark Future! Chainsaw Warrior! Star Wars! Old Ones!

I have so many theories and headcanons!

[rogue-hammer]

Fritz Corpustus, Wizard of the Plague Father

A start to my new Realm of Chaos Warband

[bizarrobrain]

"Dark Millennium" by Bolt Thrower - From "Realm of Chaos" (Full Dynamic Range Edition) (1989)

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Bolt Thrower - Realm Of Chaos

[vintagerpg]

In 1988, Games Workshop released Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness, the first of two exhaustive sourcebooks on Chaos. It’s an all-purpose sourcebook for two of the four ruinous powers: Khorne and Slaanesh. There are army lists for Warhammer Fantasy Battles and information one demons that is useful for GMs of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this book is that it serves as the introduction of Chaos into the 40,000 universe, revealing that warpspace, the dimension used for fast interstellar travel, is in fact, the Realm of Chaos — the same hostile reality the Empire of the Old World struggled to banish from our own in 40K is regularly exploited as a highway system.

In the worlds of the Warhammer universe, Chaos is the ultimate opponent. In Warhammer Fantasy, I feel like Chaos represents the human impulses that undermine civil society (the veneer of which in Old World is incredibly thin). Whatever the faults of the Empire, it is preferable to the violent dissolution of Chaos, which takes the role of a Dark Power pretty typical of fantasy lit. In 40k, though, things aren’t so simple. The Empire is a fascist monolith and Chaos, repugnant though it may seem, is the antidote for that oppressively ordered “civilization.” Sort of. This conception of the late ’80s is way more interesting and complex than I ever really gave Warhammer credit for (and I think has been consistently eroded away in the name of uncomplicated commerce in the years since).

Anyway, what amazing books. Just jammed with stuff. Lists, mutation rules, all the traitor legions associated with Slaanesh and Khorne. Above all, though, the art. So much, so gnarly, by a GW murder’s row: Ian Miller, Tony Ackland, Gary Chalk, Martin McKenna, John Blanche, Russ Nicholson and like a dozen more, with John Sibbick on the cover. If there was a fever-pitched height of GW aesthetic, its Realm of Chaos. (Also, bonus: the gargoyle from HeroQuest makes quite a few appearances!).

[trve-grimdark]

Realm of Chaos, Chaos Spawn Concept

[onlyhurtforaminute]

BOLT THROWER-LOST SOULS DOMAIN

[eva-destruction]

Finished Abbadon and his bodyguard

[reavercide2]

[trollbite]

I started this model for the Olden Demon competition, but ran out of time and had to rush it. Now I can finally call it done. I printed a photo of it and tested out my colors on that. I'm not sure if I saved time, but it was a fun process.