Warhammer 40k an in depth analysis: Part 2, The Warp: part 6, Chaos: Slaanesh, Master and mistress of excess

Whenever a creature gives in to the pleasures of sensuality and excess so does the master of pleasure of pain share in it as well, for they are the ruler of al sensation big or small. Slaanesh is the master of excess in al things, as well as the architect of the destruction and removal of al things decent and prudent from the universe.

The birth of a god

We have in Slaanesh a clear and decisive origin, both in time and space. The master of pain and pleasure was created as a direct result of the decadence of the Eldar race. As the Eldar grew more and more obsessed with pleasure, knowlage and the arts, did their collective society gravity towards more and more cruel and brutal practices. At the peak of a specificity debouchures murder orgy on the Eldar capital, did the slumbering giant known as Slaanesh wake up, and in doing so creating a tear between the warp and the Materium, this hole would be known as the eye of terror. The entirety of the heart of the Eldar empire was swallowed in to the this stable hole in to the warp.

Because of the fact that the Warp exists outside of both time, space and causality, to their fellow, have Slaanesh simultaneously always existed, and never existed. (Games Workshop. 2016)

The mind of the Eldar

In order to fully understand Slaanesh and what they represent, must we fist quickly discuss the species that created them. The Eldar is a race of ancient highly advanced hominoids, with powerful psychic powers. There exists clear thematic connections between the Elder and the Tolkien trope of an Elf. The Eldar are often described as highly mystical and spiritual in nature, their culture is built on magic as much at is is on science.

One defining feature of the Eldar race is their heightened senses compared tp the other sentient races of the galaxy. The Eldar also possesses “Highly additive personalties”, and they risk loosing themselves very easily in one task or pleasures experience if they are not careful. At the Apex of the Eldar Empire has the majority of the Eldar species fallen to such obsessions, be it drugs violence or sensual pleasures, they were ceaselessly driving each other and themselves to deeper and deep acts of thrills and depravity. It is from this obsession that Slaanesh, or “she who hungers” was born, a physical manifestation of a species endless need for sensation and pleasure. Furthermore do they represent the fear that every Eldar carries with them, the fear of loosing themselves fully to a specific sensation or pleasure, forever losing their sense of self to the experience. (Games Workshop. 2016)

The deadly sins

The palace of Slaanesh is surrounded by six areas, each dedicated to one of the seven deadly sins of the Christian faith. Greed, gluttony, lust, pride, envy and sloth are al represented in the lands of the Prince of excess, here each moral are trapped in an ironic prison of their own making, each mirroring their specific sin. The seventh sin, that of Wrath is as already discussed represented by the god of war Khorne.

For example is the land of gluttony an endlessly rich banquet of food, where the members of the feast can never sate their ravaging hunger, and greed are represented by halls full of gold and jewels, where mortals forever count endless amount of gold in stacks, only to have the stack topple over and their work go to waste. (Games Workshop. 2016)

In the 40k narrative is forbidden pleasure often tied directly or indirectly with some form of violence. The sensation of personal pleasure is often directly tied to some sort of extreme pain for someone else. Murder and torture is often described as the height of euphoric pleasure for the perpetrator, and one that seemingly stays when al other losses its lustre.

Demons of pleasure and excess

The daemons of Slaanesh are a representation on their masters psyche and mood, for they, the god and the realm they live in are al the same.

The demons of Slaanesh is described as being both simultaneously unimaginably repulsive, and unfathomably enthralling and attractive to the eye of mortals and fellow demons alike. Each of them are described as being otherworldly fast, well coordinated and dexters, and every single one of them revels in the pain and suffering of others.

Keeper of secrets

The master of the armies of Slaanesh is described as one of the most horrid and grotesque creature of the warp, multiple limed humanoids who hides their true form behind lavish masks. These creatures are highly intelligent, masterful warriors and skilled mages al. Their most interesting trait tough, is their supposed knowlage of al mortals most inmost and shameful desires. The demons uses these secrets against them, to gain power and influence. (Games Workshop. 2016)

Deamonettes

Heralds, messengers, guards and pleasure servants of the Dark god Slaanesh, these creatures lives to serve their god in every way imaginable. These daemons will go to any length to secure more prestiges place, closer to their deity, and murder, backstabbings and plotting is not unusual in the courts of the god of pleasure and pain, for the Deamonettes are just as fickle, sadistic and egocentric as the god that created them. (Games Workshop. 2016)

Beasts of Slaanesh

The god of pleasure and pain also has a number of strange and onerous beasts that roams their realms and takes care of any unwanted intruders. These creatures are able to secrete scents and sounds that hypnotizes and captivates their pray, despite their outwardly grotesque appearance. (Games Workshop. 2016)

The search for pleasure, and their consequences

The followers of Slaanesh seek sensation and pleasure in al of its myriad forms, for the galaxy is vast, and the ways to experience it seems endless. The gifts of Slaanesh allows their followers to experience these pleasures in an even more detailed and intimately they could ever do on their own. Such is the power of these gifts tough, that even the most powerful drug or erotic experience soon looses its value, as the individual grows resistant to its effects. AS a result are the followers of the master of pleasure and pain forced to find more and more powerful drugs to feed their heighten senses, until the entire world becomes a grey background noise, where only Slaanesh tempting words seems real. This mad rush to self destruction pleases their patron god greatly, for they feel every sensation, and their anguish is just as sweet as their eustacy. (Games Workshop. 2012)

Conclusions

The god of pleasure and pain possesses a few qualities that puts them aside from the other chaos gods. First and foremost are they not created from the pains and fears of the human race, but instead a direct result of the decadence and obsessions of the Eldar race. We will discuss the rise of Slaanesh and the fall of the Eldar more closely in a future chapter. Secondly is Slaanesh seemingly not interested in entering and concerning real-space in any tangible way, instead they are content in letting mortals come to them to be enthralled and captured by their powerful grace and guile. (Games Workshop. 2016)

To follow Slaanesh, just as it si to follow any other chaos god, is to see destruction at your own hands. Slaanesh promises sensation and euphoria beyond imagining, but their gifts burn so bright, that even the strongest spirit is soon a burnt out husk, for which al the pleasures of the universe are but misery and endless anguish. (Games Workshop. 2012)

References

Codex: Chaos daemons (7th Edition), Games Workshop, 2016

Codex: Chaos Space marines(7th Edition), Games Workshop, 2012