It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally dipping a green, orcish toe into the
grimdark.
For horror fans, the expansive, terrifying universe of Warhammer 40K has been a conduit
for some of the most insanely terrifying concepts and creatures in fiction - from endless swarms
of ravenous insectoid Tyranids, to the eternal totalitarian grip of the God Emperor of Mankind
- in many ways, the Warhammer 40K Universe served as a tongue-in-cheek satire of some
of the more ridiculous tropes in literature - but between those deliberate spaces, lurk
some truly horrifying creations.
So, without further delay - let the WAAAGH! begin.
Hello horror fans - once going on, and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube - Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Monsters In Warhammer 40K.
Roll the clip.
Warhammer 40K - as well as the Warhammer Fantasy universe that predated it - has been one of
the most successful tabletop games of all time, and has inspired horror fanatics, tabletop
gamers and lore enthusiasts since its inception in the early eighties.
It has gone on to spawn countless novels, compendiums, tournaments - video games and
even fan made feature length films - all centred around the violent, visceral - futuristic
behemoth of the grimdark.
Well, there’s a lot to get through - but bare with us - and also, Chaos gods are a
whole list in and of themselves - so don’t be downhearted that they don’t make an appearance.
Kicking off at Number 5 - The Void Kraken
Obviously, being set in a massive, expansive galaxy - our galaxy, in fact - it’s pretty
much a given that somewhere deep within the endless void of space, there’s always going
to lurk some kind of horrifying creature that strikes fear into the heart of space pirates
and Imperial Fleets alike, whispered from the mouths of grizzled old Merchant veterans
and greenhorn recruits.
Well, of course - much like within our own nautical folklore - Warhammer 40K has the
Void Kraken - and it’s pretty damn terrifying, lurking within asteroid belts and space debris
to suddenly spring out of the void, latch itself to a vessel - and begin eating it,
wrapping its cosmic tentacles and chomping down on the hull.
Unlike our Kraken’s of legend though - the Void Kraken are believed to be some form of
silicon-based lifeform - without blood, true bone or fluid to keep them alive.
In fact, it is speculated by some of the brightest minds in the Imperial Fleet that the Void
Kraken is comprised from the very space debris that they feed on.
Which is, a little bit worrying, right?
It’s also believed that these Kraken are asexual - and to reproduce, they away tear
a piece of themselves - fling it at the nearest planet - to create a hatchling which burrows
into the surface, feeding off of the rock for decades.
When it reaches adolescence - it flings itself back into space to hunt and feast on unwitting
space-vessels.
What a life, eh?
Swinging in next at Number 4 - The Hrud
Phew - and are these guys creepy.
A little bit of a history lesson - but for those of you that don’t know, the world
of Warhammer 40K employs a very important narrative device - a place known as the Warp
- which is essentially an ancient dimension that exemplifies the cosmic fabric of existence,
and is home to some of the most powerful entities in the entire universe - mainly the Chaos
gods, but we’ll get on to them at a later date.
Well - the Hrud are an alien species that employ the horrifying, cosmic powers of the
Warp in the physical plane.
The Hrud - also known as the Nocturnal Warriors of Hrud - are a highly intelligent alien race,
hailing from the dark corners of the Milky Way Galaxy - who possesses the biological
capability to accelerate the aging of any living being.
Essentially - you know that scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?
You chose poorly?
Yeah, the Hrud do that - just for fun.
Several physical incarnations of these horrifying creatures have been found throughout 40K lore
- but generally, their appearance is that of a vaguely humanoid abomination that secretes
vile poisons from its skin, has snarling teeth and mandibles - and upon death, liquifies
its flesh into a pool of black miasma.
The Hrud lurk in the dark places of the universe, always underground - and make a habit of infesting
any place that they’re found.
Despite that though, they also have a considerably advanced societal structure - and worship
a pantheon of gods known as the Slah-Haii.
Yeah, so who the hell knows.
That’s just Warhammer 40K guys.
Coming in next at Number 3 - The Cherub
And seriously - these guys are the first creatures that truly terrified me in the Warhammer 40K
world.
And for good reason, really.
Well, if you know anything about the Imperium of Man, the all-powerful human Terran empire
of 40K - you’ll know that they’re a twisted, ancient establishment of two-parts bio-technology
- and one part archaic Imperialism.
And - erm, because of that unique perspective - they decided it would be a good idea to
grow child-like clones in labs, fit them with wings and mechanical augmentations - and have
them fly around the Emperor like the mythical Cherubims of Judeo-Christian belief.
Yeah.
Essentially, these are manufactured cybernetic babies that, while aren’t alive in the conventional
sense - are made up of bio-organic matter and technology, and programmed exclusively
to perform ceremonial tasks - like copying sacred texts of the Imperium, carrying small
banners behind a squad of Inquisitors - or, and this is the weirdest one - eternally singing
the praises of the God-Emperor of Mankind in his throne room.
As in, his entire chamber is filled with hundreds of these Cherubs, that sing hymns about how
awesome he is - and also, if they hear any blasphemy against the Imperium - they’re
programmed to swoop down in a frenzied swarm of zealotry and slice the traitor to ribbons.
Yeah.
See what I mean?
Next up at Number 2 - The Slaugth
Despite the Warhammer 40K universe being filled to the brim with vile alien xenos races - the
Slaugth are probably the most terrible, evil, and monstrous beings of them all - so much
so, that only the most depraved or utterly desperate lifeforms even think about dealing
with them.
That’s quite the reputation, eh?
Well in fact - they’re so utterly despicable, that the Slaugth are mostly considered mythical
figures - named in a few scattered tales as the Maggot Men, the Dream Eaters - the Carrion
Masters or the Worm That Walks - but despite these horrifying titles, the majority of the
galaxy take the legends seriously.
However, the Inquisition know better - and have numerous documented cases with these
ancient, mysterious horrors down the millennia.
The anatomy of the Slaugth isn’t entirely clear - but it is truly horrific to look upon
- often taking the form of a vague humanoid shape, composed of seemingly hundreds of writhing,
half-melded maggot-like worms covered in viscous, necrotic mucus.
They’re capable of stretching and reforming their body-mass at will, an often move with
an obscene, boneless fluidity.
They’re impervious to age, poison, diseases - and their minds are an unknowable, ancient
void - coldly savage, incomprehensible to mankind - and filled with a monstrous hunger
for the dead.
Yeah, the Slaugth are as close to Cthulhu in a spaceship that we’re ever gonna get.
And finally - coming in at our Number 1 spot - The Nightbringer
And this guy takes the top spot over the Slaugth - because, well - he’s the literal embodiment
of death.
Firstly though, we can’t talk about him without addressing the Necron.
If you know anything about Warhammer 40K - you’ll know that the Necro are an ancient, mysterious
race of robotic zombie warriors that were corrupted to the point that they buried their
own species in tomb-worlds across the galaxy - waiting for their timely moment to wake
up and wreak havoc across the galaxy.
And they did, but that’s another story.
Before all of that though - they were servants to the C’tan - an ancient race of Star Gods
- and this guy, the Nightbringer, was perhaps the most powerful and terrifying of them all.
The Nightbringer, also known as Aza’gorod - was once the mighty Star God of death, darkness
and destruction.
Quite the title.
But actually, before the fall of their empire, the Necron somehow managed to kill this guy
- capturing his cosmic essence in a shard of energy, and burying it deep beneath one
of their Tomb Worlds.
And then they all became robot-zombies.
Well, of course - the meddlings of the Imperium awakened the Nightbringer from his stasis
tomb - and he fled into the dark void of the galaxy, feasting on the power of dying stars
- slowing rebuilding his strength for the perfect moment to reap his vengeance, and
swing his scythe once more.
Yeah, the literal embodiment of death is lurking somewhere in the galaxy.
Sounds like a bit of a problem to me.
Well - there we have it horror fans - our list for the Top 5 Scariest Monsters In Warhammer
40K - what do you guys think?
Let us know your horror related thoughts, as well as any choice Warhammer picks - in
the comment section down below.
Before we depart though, let’s take a quick look at some of your more resounding remarks
from over the past few days.
Robyne Williams-Heller says -- Hi Jack!
Always put a smile on my face when I see your channel notification pop up.
By the way - what happened to the flying witch in the background?
-- And hey Robyne!
That’s incredibly kind of you, always glad to hear some pleasant words from a horror
fan.
And well - you guys said that you wanted a dragon, so I put a dragon egg up there.
Those things don’t hatch overnight, you know?
Agatha will be back at some point, I hope.
Maybe.
Remember, never piss off a witch.
Well - on that note horror fans, that’s unfortunately all we’ve got time for in
today’s video - cheers for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell - and we’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.