Six treasures of Chaos
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The six treasures of Chaos are magical artefacts possessed by the Chaos Lord Archaon, a character in the fictional universe of Warhammer Fantasy. Archaon appears as a character in Chaos army lists for Warhammer Fantasy Battle and the effects of the six treasures are part of the rules for fielding the character in games. The background material for the character relates how Archaon searched the Warhammer World for the six artifacts prior to the events of the Storm of Chaos worldwide campaign, and intended to bring about the end of the world.
In Warhammer World history, a prophecy written by a blind prophet called Necrodomo the Insane related how the six artifacts would be recovered by the Chosen One of Chaos, who would then unleash a new age of Chaos upon the world. Archaon spent over a hundred years travelling the world to locate the items. In truth, the treasures are not all arteacts; four are, but one is a mark burned into Archaon's flesh, and another is a daemonic horse. The story of Archaon's search is probably intended to be reminiscent of the story of the Twelve Labours from ancient Greek mythology, although it also draws heavily on folklore, eschatology, an inverted Journey of the Mythic Hero, and mythologies of the apocalypse.
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[edit] The Mark of the Chosen One
This mark was burned into Archaon's forehead when he visited a place known only as the "Altar of Ultimate Darkness" in Naggaroth. The Mark represents a blessing (and also, possibly, a curse) from the four Chaos Gods. It is said that whosoever touches the bearer of the Mark will be subjected to the wrath of those gods. The Fantasy counterpart of Abbadon the Despoiler's Mark of Chaos Ascendant in Warhammer 40,000.
[edit] The Armour of Morkar
This suit of immensely ancient black Chaos armour once belonged to the first Everchosen of Chaos, Morkar the Uniter, who was slain by Sigmar. According to Warhammer history, no-one knows exactly how Archaon came to possess the Armour of Morkar; all that is known is that Archaon travelled across the seas on a ship made of black metal, and returned with the suit of armour. The armour is enchanted with strong protective magic.
[edit] The Eye of Sheerian
This mysterious gemstone is supposedly named after a powerful T'zeentchian sorcerer. The gemstone was located by Archaon amongst the treasure-hoard of a Chaos dragon named Flamefang. Archaon took only the Eye and left the rest of the treasure behind, although a battle against the dragon nevertheless ensued. After a long duel at the top of the Cliff of Beasts, Archaon killed the dragon. The Eye of Sheerian has unspecified prophetic powers which can be used by its bearer if it is set into the Crown of Domination (see below); for practical purposes, the Eye is an immensely powerful protective artifact which shields Archaon from physical and magical harm. The Eye's place in the crown on Archaon's head is perhaps intended to be reminiscent of the metaphysical concept of the third eye, which appears in Hindu and Buddhist mythology and spiritualism.
[edit] Dorghar, the Daemon Steed
Referred to as W'Soraych in fifth edition Warhammer background, Dorghar is a huge daemonic horse and a steed for Archaon. In order to acquire this creature, Archaon travelled deep into the realm of Chaos, to the Gates of Chaos themselves, and stole the monstrous animal from the stables of a daemon-lord known as Agrammon. This part of the story is perhaps meant to recall the story of Heracles' theft of the Mares of Diomedes.
[edit] The Slayer of Kings
This huge magical sword is inhabited by the spiritual essence of a greater daemon known only as U'zuhl. The daemon was bound to the sword by the second great champion of Chaos, Vangel. After spending thousands of years trapped within the blade, U'zuhl has become quite insane. Archaon discovered the sword from a place called the Chimera Plateau, a remote location apparently occupied by the oldest living Dragon Ogre, a creature said to be the size of a mountain. This creature may be the entity referred to as Krakenroc the Black in Dragon Ogre mythology. The story of Archaon's recovery of the sword says that he wrested it from the creature's grasp while the creature was asleep. The sword is a devastatingly powerful weapon, resembling the Daemon sword Abbadon the Despoiler possesses in Warhammer 40,000.
[edit] The Crown of Domination
Locating this powerful magical crown caused Archaon more difficulty than the location of the other five treasures. After some years of searching, Archaon's warband, the Swords of Chaos, located a hidden shrine in the World's Edge Mountains. Within the shrine, Archaon faced challenges set by all four of the Chaos gods, including daemonic attacks and confusing illusions. The final challenge took place in the chamber containing the Crown, where Archaon fought and killed a Bloodthirster, the Greater Daemon of Khorne. Archaon seized the Crown, despite the efforts of the enraged and jealous Daemon Prince Be'lakor. The Crown of Domination "exudes an aura of raw malice, cowing the unruly servants of Chaos, and terrifying the enemy." The capture of the Crown resulted in Archaon's coronation as the Lord of the End Times and signified the beginning of his crusade to fulfil the prophecy of Necrodomo, which resulted in the third End Times war - the conflict represented by the Storm of Chaos worldwide campaign.
