The judges have decided and the Hero Portrait Contest is ended. Check out the winning entry HERE.

Name: Bronislav. He is known to his followers as Aq'Kharneth, meaning Lord of Raging Fire, a title granted him by his god when he was Chosen. To his enemies he is known as Bronislav the Damned, because he follows the way of Chaos.

Origins: Bronislav hails from the Kalderak mountains, a broken volcanic region of the Wastes. He was raised in the warrior ranks of the Clan Brugâgh in the shadow of the volcano, Aq'Chamonek. In a savage ascension ritual, Bronislav leapt into the mouth of the volcano but was spared a fiery death by the Chaos god Aq'Chamoneth, the Fire Lord. Whether alone, with his trusted companion and advisor Vladimir, or leading his army, the Vor'Ir Aq'Kharneth (the war men of the Lord of Fire and Rage), Bronislav serves his Lord with unmatched zeal.

Characteristics: Bronislav stands a head taller than most men, his build is strong and athletic. Although many (especially women) find him striking, no one would ever call him handsome. He has piercing black eyes, rugged features, a wolfish grin, and unnaturally red hair, which changed from jet black during his rebirth in the volcano. Fire cannot harm him, in fact, it heals him. He possesses superhuman strength and speed, as do all lords of chaos. In battle he wields a mighty sword whose blade is wreathed in an unquenchable flame.

Quote: "I am strong Aq'Chamoneth, and brave. Fear finds no home in my heart. Judge me now and weigh my worth."

Source(s): Tales of Bronislav's exploits can be found in To Forge a Kingdom as well as many future installments.






Name: Born Vladimir Kravczyk. After his conversion to the way of Chaos he was given the title Zorvigral. Known as Vladimir the Wicked in Kislev.

Origins: Vladimir was orphaned as a baby when a marauding chaos warband destroyed his village in Kislev. Vladimir was taken in by the Order of Sigmar at Erengrad Monastery. From a very young age he received instruction as a clerical member of that Order. During his fifteenth year Vladimir was ensnared by a Chaos artifact that was brought into the Monastery for study and eventual destruction. He made his way to the Wastes and there encountered Bronislav. Together they serve the will of Chaos in all of its machinations.

Characteristics: Vladimir is a small man with a wiry frame and delicate features. His outward appearance, however, belies the monumental power he wields. Perhaps one of the most naturally gifted mages of the millennia, Vladimir stands with the confidence of one who could level a building or incinerate a man with the mere flick of his hand. Although he is capable with many lores of magic, Vladimir prefers Fire for its sheer chaotic nature. His eyes glow with an inner fire when he summons his power, but are as often cast downward in introspective sorrow for what he has seen of the past, the present, and the future.

Quote: "Sooner or later the tides of Chaos that crash against this world will wear it away, and when they do I will inherit more power than your puny mind can even conceive!"

Source(s): The many adventures of Vladimir can be found in The Seduction, as well as To Forge a Kingdom, and many more upcoming stories.






Name: Grigor. Called The Manslayer by friends and enemies alike for his savagery and murderous slaughter in an extended campaign into the southlands.

Origins: Grigor was born with a warrior spirit, which was nurtured by Clan Brugâgh. At the age of six he slew a rampaging Ozuk (a ferocious bear-like creature of the warp) and consumed its heart, which the Shamen believe bestowed the power and spirit of the creature upon the boy. He joined the warrior ranks at the age of thirteen, and was a blooded veteran by sixteen. His battle skills are the stuff of legends. It is said that he single-handedly slew twenty seven imperial soldiers outside of Marienburg when ambushed.

Characteristics: Grigor has a powerful frame that ripples with hard muscle and is ablaze with scars from countless battles. He wears both this long brown hair and beard braided. His brown eyes gleam with barely-checked madness and rage. He shuns armor, and has even been known to launch into battle completely nude. Although proficient in nearly all melee weapons, Grigor prefers to wield paired axes, which he does so with horrifying proficiency.

Quote: "The painter must paint. The singer must sing. The dancer must dance. I, too, must do what I was born to do. My canvas is human flesh, my brush is sharpened steel, and my palette has only shades of red. I extract melodies in the screams of dying men, and harmonies in the wails of their aggrieved widows. It is to this tune that I perform my dance of death. Come, dance with me now, that I may show you what you were born to do."

Source(s): Grigor's first appearance is in To Forge a Kingdom, but figures to be featured in many stories to come.






Name: Slaaneshi Chaos Lord Seth Garrick. Also known as Halanalain, The Twisted Blue Rose, in the halls of Naggarroth, land of the dark elves. Amongst the chaos dwarves, Pheth Pwar, He Who's Name Cannot Be Shouted. To the rat-men of the Skaven, Tic-tictick-chit-it, Horned Pack Leader Laughing Down Empty Tunnels. In the lands of men his aliases include David Kincaid, and simply 'Burner'. Seth's real name (and entire previous history) was lost to him during the creation rites that marked him to Slaanesh and invested in him all the powers of a full Chaos Lord.

Origins: Seth is the protégé of an as-yet unknown (presumably Slaaneshi) Chaotic personage. This entity is largely responsible for Seth's early training as a seducer and manipulator, and as a recruiter for the ruinous powers in general and the Dark Prince in particular. Seth operates more independently now, but unquestioningly obeys the infrequent missives and directives from his master whenever they are imparted to him.

Characteristics: At first glance Seth appears to be a tall, fairly broad shouldered, bald man in his late twenties. At second glance he also has small symmetrical horns jutting from his forehead and the Mark Of Ruinous Power Slaanesh branded into his left cheek. His features are sharp, yet somehow bland, like a picture drawn by an old master, but of a subject he cared nothing for. The armor Seth wears is covered with writhing blue runes comprised of viscerally erotic pictures. His helmet, similarly rune-covered, shifts to display electric-blue 'features' across the faceplate. He also has a short, prehensile tail. Seth enjoys slaughtering other people's sacred cows more than any other pastime, and can usually be found with a smirky grin on his face as he does so.

Quote: "It's always easier to believe in some outside, evil, corrupting, influence than the idea that someone might deliberately make a choice you don't agree with, isn't it?"

Source(s): The continuing adventures of Seth Garrick can be found here in the Tower of Malkorax. The Chaos Thorn is the first Seth Garrick novel, while Betrayals is the first short story. Honor Among Thieves is a battle report wherein Seth proves his that as a General, Seth is much better off in the battlefields of the bedroom than the jungle.






Name: Earl Luc Cadfael of Parravon. Also known as The Boar of Brionne. General Commanding the Army of Brionne.

Origins: Following his family tradition of inclusion into Bretonnian knighthood, Cadfael proved himself an exceptional tactician and a man of sterling honor. Serving in a campaign against the Skaven Rat-men under the Command of Sir Alfred of Tooting Bec, Cadfael caught the attention of the Duke of Parravon, Andre du Panache. After serving a short time on the Duke's general staff, Cadfael was promoted to General Commanding of the Provincial army. Shortly after his appointment Cadfael married Evelynne d'Heroux of Parravon, his sweetheart since childhood. Evelynne died of a sudden illness after little more than a year of marriage.

Characteristics: Earl Cadfael is a man in his early thirties, with brown hair and eyes. His hair, in the Bretonnian style, is kept long and his goatee neatly trimmed. His colors are blue with yellow trim, though this is typically counterpointed with a black mourning scarf he keeps around his right bicep. His device is a charging boar. Since the death of his wife, the first strands of gray have found their way in to Cadfael's hair, and the lines of his face have deepened. He does not laugh or smile as he used to, and his eyes have a hard, haunted look in them. Luc is consumed by grief he can neither express, nor ignore.

Quote: "You seem to enjoy making sport of me, and in this I indulge you because I know no matter how distasteful I find you, this behavior is typical of the court in which you normally live. I tolerate your jests about my country and it's people because I realize that we, despite our prudishness and naiveté, have stood proudly and victoriously as a bulwark against you and your kind for fifteen hundred years. Having explained my apparent passivity in these matters, I now feel obliged to warn you," The sword jabbed forward, raising a dot of blood at the top of the man's throat, and the Earl's voice became even more strained. "The next time your lips touch upon the words 'your wife' while conversing with me, I shall take it as a deep and unpardonable insult, and shall immediately move to avenge the stain to my honor, consequences be damned, and cut your head from your body. Is that understood?"

Source(s): So far, Earl Cadfael is a major supporting character in The Chaos Thorn, and currently plans are underway to give him a share of center stage in the next Seth Garrick novel (provided he lives through this one).






Name: Commandant Roland Bourdon of Porte d'Ouest.

Origins: Showing initiative and courage (though not necessarily good judgment) during a battle with Orc Warboss Dognose 'Edbreaka, Bourdon managed to outshine his more conservative Commanding Officer by bringing back the head of the Orc General as the bandit attempted to escape. Awarded with the command of his own outpost, Roland continues to plan his further his upward trajectory in Bretonnian society.

Characteristics: Roland is a hard-faced young man in his late twenties. His eyes and hair are a deep brown, and his face clean-shaven. His colors are white trimmed in red, with the device of a rearing griffon.

Quote: "He's jealous, you know? Cadfael. He simply cannot tolerate anyone threatening his 'greatness'. Bastard. Useless bastard. Weak. I showed them before what a warrior can accomplish, right under his upturned nose. I'll do it again. They cannot keep men of will and ambition down, Father. You taught me that. I swear, Father. I'll show them all, and the House of Bourdon will gain it's rightful place. We will not be denied. And if the sainted Earl and his ilk cannot be made to understand that..."

Source(s): The Chaos Thorn.






Name: Lady Simone d'Heroux of Parravon

Origins: When she was six, an accident left Lady Simone's face terribly scarred. Her injuries freed her from the Bretonnian custom of marriage, allowing Simone to become highly educated, highly opinionated, and (by Bretonnian standards) extremely volatile: part of her education included knife fighting and unarmed combat. Lady Simone was the twin sister of Evlynne, late wife of Earl Cadfael. When Evlynne died, Simone was asked by the Earl to come to Brionne to live, rather than remaining alone in her family's ancestral estate. However, upon arrival in Brionne, Simone has found Cadfael's strictly traditional ways chafing heavily against her own independence.

Characteristics: Simone is tall, thin, and well spoken. She dresses herself plainly in grays, a veil and hood covering her scars. She wears a hidden knife on her left forearm, a present from her sister when Evlynne went of to be married. Simone has a brusque manner developed over the years in response to those who attempt to coddle her, either for her injuries, or simply the fact she's a woman.

Quote: The noblewoman continued, the gutter lurking nearby, but etiquette and protocol found and nearer. "As I was saying earlier, before you began entertaining me with your underwater acrobatics and various appendage waving, was that the Earl had asked me to look in on you, make sure you were comfortable, see if there was anything you required. But apparently all you lack is a constant and appreciative audience which laughs and claps when you do tricks. I would volunteer myself, but apparently I lack the special something that allows everyone else to see how witty and charming you are. Because when I look at you I see a crude and petty boor, Lord Garrick. Coarse and completely lacking in refinement. That somehow you believe yourself enough of an authority on social grace to laud or upbraid the gifts or shortcomings you perceive in others is... well, it's rather sad."

Source(s): The Chaos Thorn.






Name: Big Smoke. Also known as Dat Krazy-Bad White-Rasta Bwayy.

Origins: One evening in the Twisted Goat ™, during a mutogenic mushroom rave, Seth was jostled by a truly enormous man wearing smoked quartz eyeglasses and sporting massive dreadlocks. A colorful and graphic discussion ensued over who would be the pitcher and who the catcher in their imminent physical altercation. The debate continued over several additional doses of mushroom and/or the pungent herbal cheroots the Rasta kept producing from hidden pockets in his armor. By last call, both individuals were willing to temporarily forego administration of massive soft tissue damage to one another (mostly because by that point neither could stand unaided, let alone participate in mortal combat). The next evening when both awoke, it was decided that the crushing hangovers they were both experiencing was more than enough punishment for the time being. Since then, Smoke has stayed with Seth mostly because the smaller man seems to be the only person in the Wastes able to understand his thick patois.

Characteristics: Smoke is a great huge fireplug of a man. When not covered with a floppy yellow, green, and orange beret, thick cables of dreadlock spread their way down his back. His skin is pale, but heavy scars cover every inch of him, particularly his face. His eyes are nearly always hidden behind the dark lenses of his spectacles. Smoke has a deep, powerful command voice, which is a shame since his orders are nearly incoherent. He says that on the beautiful southern island he hails from, everyone speaks the same way, only louder and faster. His chosen color is 'ganj'' green, and the way he tells it, he chooses it quite a lot.

Quote: "Everything crash, bwaaay. We colt the game, yah no see it? Posse faddah back, Captain. Nuttin' nah go right. Is just pure almshouse a gwaan. Yah, dey not be stoppin' till they gets back what's they's, mon."

Source(s): So far, Smoke only appears in Honor Among Thieves, but will play a larger role in the next Seth Garrick novel.






Name: Bahdi Koda, Chaos Samurai-Lord of Khorne. Also known as Bahdi-sama, The Scourge of Weijin, and The Lord of Ten Thousand Terrors.

Origins: Koda was a samurai of high standing in Nippon who was cursed with an unfortunately indecisive and hesitant Daimyo. When his master was overcome by his enemies and made to commit ritual seppuku to cleanse his honor at being taken prisoner, the Daimyo ordered all of his vassals to do the same. Enraged at this final stupidity, Koda decided it would be more honorable to rebel and flee than kowtow in the dirt before opening his belly. In his flight he found many allies in the Hung marauders of Cathay. Quickly the Samurai joined the cult of the Blood God and found much favor at the foot of His brass throne. Bahdi Koda and Seth Garrick partnered together for reasons only known only to the Chaos Gods themselves and a select few of their most elite followers. While initially troubled, the two chaos Lords quickly became a greatly feared team, cutting a bloody swath through Northern Cathay and The Eastern Steppes. Bahdi was thought dead after an ordered betrayal at the hands of Seth Garrick during a pitched battle against Cathayan Regulars.

Characteristics: Koda is encased in dark Nipponese armor covered with flashing red runes, and trimmed with brass. Considering himself an instrument of the Blood God and above such petty concerns, he seldom speaks except to issue orders to further the cause of the Raging One. In battle Koda uses a samurai dai-katana, a one or two-handed killing sword. The sword's name is Tetsu-Ko, and is Koda's only prized possession.

Quote: "You will not escape me!" Bahdi Koda hissed into Seth's ear. "Vengeance is mine, betrayer! Your head is mine!" (Along with the name of his weapon, Koda's only recorded utterance).

Source(s): The Chaos Thorn, and an upcoming currently untitled short story about Bahdi and Garrick's first meeting.



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