The Bloodbound are the most devoted mortal warriors of Khorne, the Blood God. They’re a curse upon the Mortal Realms, and their name also belongs to a Gaunt’s Ghosts short story about a Chaos magister and the Iron Snakes sent to kill him.
What the Bloodbound are
In the Age of Sigmar, the Bloodbound are Khorne’s chosen: warriors who’ve proven themselves worthy of his favour through slaughter. They’re more than any fighters who shout his name. They’re the ones he’s picked out personally.
They come in numbers fit to flood a land, sweeping down on their foes with terrifying violence. Bone warhorns blare, war cries roll out ahead of them, and the reek of spilled blood follows close behind.
Tribes, cities, and nations have fallen to them. Since the Age of Chaos began, they’ve plagued every realm, and they’ve rarely known defeat.
How a Bloodbound warband works
Khorne’s followers don’t get along. Even inside a warband, cooperation lasts only as long as there are enough enemies to go around. The moment the killing stops, they start eyeing each other.
A Mighty Lord of Khorne holds them together by finding worthy foes to slaughter. That gives his frenzied followers a common purpose beyond tearing each other apart. Only the greatest champions manage it for more than a few battles.
Beneath the lord sit his Gorechosen, the eight champions highest in his favour. Below them come the warbands, each led by champions eager to kill their way into the Gorechosen. The whole thing is a ladder made of corpses.
- Bloodreavers: tribal warriors who fight for personal glory
- Wrathmongers: strange, pseudo-daemonic packs
- Gorechosen: the eight champions closest to a Mighty Lord
- Brass Stampedes and other warbands: the bulk of the horde
The Blood Bound short story
There’s a separate Black Library short story called The Blood Bound, written by Rob Sanders for the Gaunt’s Ghosts series. It’s collected in Sabbat Crusade.
The plot follows Sholen Skara, a Chaos magister captured by the Tanith First early in their history. More than a decade later he escapes and flees to Valens 160.
A squad of Iron Snakes Space Marines, Squad Orpheon, is sent to retrieve or kill him. They find his power to turn men against the Emperor has already taken hold on the planet, and beating him might cost an entire world.
Why it matters
The Bloodbound show what Khorne’s favour actually looks like when it lands on a mortal. It’s not a reward. It’s a leash made of rage, and it drags whole civilizations down with it.
That’s the same idea behind the short story: Chaos corruption spreads through people long before anyone swings an axe. By the time the Iron Snakes arrive, Valens 160 is already lost in a way bolters can’t fix.
Key facts
- The Bloodbound are Khorne’s most devoted mortal warriors in Age of Sigmar.
- They’re held together only by a strong leader and a steady supply of enemies.
- A Mighty Lord of Khorne commands his eight Gorechosen, who command the warbands.
- The Blood Bound is a Rob Sanders short story in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series, collected in Sabbat Crusade.
- Its plot follows Iron Snakes Space Marines hunting the escaped Chaos magister Sholen Skara on Valens 160.
FAQ
Are the Bloodbound in Warhammer 40k?
The Bloodbound as a faction belong to Warhammer Age of Sigmar, not 40k. In 40k, the name refers to a Gaunt’s Ghosts short story about a Chaos magister and the Iron Snakes.
Who wrote The Blood Bound short story?
Rob Sanders wrote it. It’s part of the Gaunt’s Ghosts series and appears in the Sabbat Crusade anthology.
What is the Gorechosen?
The eight champions highest in a Mighty Lord of Khorne’s favour. Champions below them compete to take their places.