Tzeentch

Tzeentch is a literary deity who features in Warhammer.

Biography

Fantasy

Tzeentch was a powerful deity who stood as a member of the Ruinous Powers of the four Chaos Gods.

To the people of Cathay, he came to be known as Chi'an Chi whose cultists were the only those of the Chaos Gods that had a strong hold in the kingdom.

Overview

Personality and attributes

Tzeentch has as many depictions as he has names. His skin is said to constantly shift and roll with faces, faces that leer and express mockery. As Tzeentch speaks, these faces repeat what he says, but with different inflections, or a word different here and there, or in fact provide running commentary or analysis on what he is saying; this makes it almost impossible to be certain what meaning Tzeentch is actually expressing. While these skin-faces come and go very quickly, Tzeentch's actual body is said to be constant; his head is low on his chest as if he had no neck and horns project from his shoulders. Raw magical energy surrounds him like smoke, with the faces and bodies of those whose fates he is considering manifesting before him in subtle and complex patterns.

He was known as the Changer of Ways, the Master of Fortune, the Great Conspirator and as the Architect of Fate.

Tzeentch was created and sustained by the desire for change that was an essential part of nearly all mortal life. Nearly all species were aware of the concept of a better tomorrow, and any form of dreaming, imagining or resolution for change empowered the Chaos God. Like the other Chaos Gods, Tzeentch showed a strong interest in humanity due to the power and drive of the human spirit and how that uniquely tied into his interests. No creature was deemed more volatile or more ambitious when compared to humans. The spark of wishing for a different existence thus could turn into a fire that was able to change a country, a world, and perhaps ultimately an inferno that could alter the fate of galaxy itself with all of this being the markings of Tzeentch.

As well as an interest in magic, Tzeentch takes keen notice of all plots and plans. As the Great Conspirator, he is aware of all the dreams and plans of mortals. This is how Tzeentch is able to perceive the future; by being aware of all that is planned and all that may potentially happen, he can see all possible fates. Wishing to be involved with the fates of existence, Tzeentch directly and indirectly interferes in the fates of all things. His intentions are unknown, his schemes insanely complicated and his plans so extraordinarily long-term it may be that none other than he will ever see the end of all of them. It is often claimed that Tzeentch wishes to extend his power over the Materium, or to defeat his brother Gods; however, it is the nature of Tzeentch to care just as much about altering the fate of a single individual. Tzeentch's schemes also often appear contradictory to those who discern them; this is because only Tzeentch can understand his own interests and perceive the full possibilities of each action.

Powers and abilities

There was once a time when Tzeentch ruled supreme over the Warp, his powers vastly superior to those of the Other Chaos Gods. However this state of affairs ended when the other Dark Gods temporarily set aside their differences and joined forces. During the final battle, Tzeentch faced certain defeat and cast a great spell upon himself. He crystalized his thoughts and body even as he was hurled against the Endless Mountains. Upon impact, his form was shattered into ten thousand pieces, each of which contained a fragment of his essence. These were flung across space and time, and while Tzeentch was forever weakened legend suggests this event marked the beginning of the use of sorcery in realspace.

Among his notable servants included:

• Blue Scribes :
• Changeling :
• Kairos Fateweaver :

Daemons that served Tzeentch included:

• Lord of Change :
• Horror of Tzeentch :
• Flamer of Tzeentch :
• Screamer :

The mortal champions of Tzeentch are especially dangerous, as they often wield awesome sorcerous power on top of their considerable physical prowess. Professors, philosophers, scientists, intellectuals, and artists also swell Tzeentch’s ranks, for as much as the Changer of Ways embraces magic and guile, he also loves knowledge in all its forms. Predictably, Tzeentch finds those who investigate forbidden or taboo subjects particularly interesting, as individuals willing to defy convention and perhaps even ethics and the law to pursue their intellectual ambitions often make willing and effective servants. Some thinkers who reach a stumbling block in their scholarly pursuits can become obsessed with a particular problem or question. These scholars may try any number of approaches to find answers, but no experiment, no amount of research or consultation with experts, and no amount of sweat and elbow grease brings them closer to a solution. These obsessed scholars are particularly vulnerable to Tzeentch’s temptations. While some may deliberately seek the assistance of the Master of Fate, many more unwittingly fall into Tzeentch’s service after accepting help from an insightful but mysterious new colleague or after gazing too long at a classified or forbidden text that somehow finds its way onto their desk.

The armies of Tzeentch were known as the Scintillating Legions that went to war in bizarre carnivals of magical violence, obliterating and mutating foes with sorcerous magic. There are several types of Tzeentchian Legions, such as Conflagration Legion which is built around a force of Flamers or a Legions Anarchus, unpredictable formations used in random and unexpected incursions. The Veiled Legions are the most mysterious of all of Tzeentch's forces; they rarely appear and when they do are known to slink away unseen after their plan's culmination.

Within the Warp, he ruled a realm that was called the Maze of Tzeentch which was also known as the Crystal Labyrinth. This maze is woven from the raw fabric of magic, threaded upon deceit and conspiracy. Of all the landscapes of the Warp, this domain is by far the most bizarre and incomprehensible, for its crystalline structures force travelers to view all nine dimensions simultaneously. This effect not only distorts the senses of any who intrude, but will also pulls apart their purpose and aspirations and turns them to insanity and despair. Unlike the realms of the other Gods of Chaos, it is not defended by Daemonic warriors, allowing instead for any intruder to become inevitably lost within its confines. At its centre resided the Impossible Fortress that was an ever shifting structure who at its heart was the Hidden Library.

Notes

• Tzeentch was created by Games Workshop and featured in the setting of Warhammer along with its spin-off universes.

Appearances

• Warhammer Fantasy:
• Warhammer 40,000:
• Warhammer: Age of Sigmar:

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