Why would anyone worship a chaos god OTHER than Nurgle?

[Captbigbeard]

First off I'm not BASHING the other chaos gods. I love all of 'um, I think they're all freaking awesome. I am not saying Nurgle is the best in terms of cool or interesting factor.

But from a lore standpoint, wouldn't Nurgle be BY FAR the best chaos god to turn too?

I mean...

A. Grandfather Nurgle and his daemons actually care about their followers, in a fatherly way no less. All the other chaos gods would most likely use you and then toss you away like a used condemn once you served your purpose. Nurgle is essentially almost benevolent if you follow him.

B. The daemons of Nurgle don't seem all that bad (in terms of Warhammer bad... in a universe where nearly every one has a brutal violent darkside). You got the beasts of Nurgle, which are described as being like giant puppies, they just wanna play! You got the Great Unclean Ones who are paternal and careing. Then you got those cute lil' buggers who are mischievous but not evil. Plaguebearers are all business though.

C. Ya gain near immortality.

The only downside is you turn into a giant pile of decaying YUCK. Ya that sounds bad, but ultimately it's much better than the fate the vast majority of followers of the other chaos gods face.

I'm not incredibly well versed in the lore of the other chaos gods, so I am legitimately asking this question, am I missing something?

[Denny]

. . . STDs?

[Arhalius]

I think most people would pick Slaanesh for the sex and drugs, although there's alot more to Slaanesh then that of course.

Why would anyone want to become a fat diseased mess?

[Hendarion]

Personally I don't see any good reason not to follow the Lord of Change, Master of Fate and Magic.

[Mannimarco]

Why would anyone want to become a fat diseased mess?

You dont embrace Nurgle because you want that. These are the things that happen to you when you do embrace him (although you are sustained by Nurgle so your ailments dont even affect you anymore).....of the ailments are the things that force you to Nurgle in the first place.

You choose to follow Nurgle in the hope that he will deliver you from your pain. He does, just not in the way you would expect.

[chrisloomis13]

I think its more of a slope down to worship. I don't think people convert like some choose to in the real world.

Someone that fights in one of the many wars being waged in the Warhammer world, would probably train, and want to be better, and some of them will fall into worship of Khorne.

A politician that is trying to further his career may accidentally worship Tzeentch. Also, those that practice magic could easily find themselves worshipping Tzeentch.

Besides the aforementioned sex and drugs, Slaanesh also attracts artists, as they want to stimulate the senses of those that look at their work, or listen to their music.

I don't think anyone wants to worship, and I think for the most part they don't realize they're doing it until they are very far down the path, beyond redemption.

Also, the way Nurgle "cares" for his followers is unique, and I feel the words are twisted. He is the last I would want anything to do with. I would argue the other gods are being more honest and forward with their followers.

[Captbigbeard]

I think most people would pick Slaanesh for the sex and drugs, although there's alot more to Slaanesh then that of course.

Why would anyone want to become a fat diseased mess?

Well, when you worship Nurgle you enjoy being diseased and disgusting... but ultimately the perks of worshiping Nurgle seem to FAR outweigh the negatives... the negative being you become very disgusting. If you look at the BIG PICTURE the other chaos gods seem to offer immediate benefits but ultimately a terrible fate. Nurge seems to offer immediate relief AND the potential of as "pleasant" as an ultimate fate as you can get in the 40k world.

With Khorne you would most likely end up very dead very fast, and god forbid if you piss him or his daemons off.

Tzeetch doesn't care about you and eventually you'll be tossed to the wayside or mutated into something FAR worse than a follower of Nurgle.

And Slaanesh is the f*ing worse of them all. If someone says they would want to worship Slaanesh I don't think they quite understand how Slaanesh.

Also, the way Nurgle "cares" for his followers is unique, and I feel the words are twisted. He is the last I would want anything to do with. I would argue the other gods are being more honest and forward with their followers.

His words aren't THAT twisted I mean look at this story. Nurgle made the ULTIMATE disease. It was his master creation. A stupid little Nurgling comes along and utterly ruins it (be drinking it no less!) Nurglings are the lowest of the low, but Nurgle simply laughed, patted him on the back and went on with his work. Most of the sources say he legitimately cares (in a loving way) about his followers.

[Hendarion]

As you see, opinions differ. You like him to care for you, others give a damn.

[LonelyPath]

I have happily spent the last 22 years of my life devoted to Slaanesh and I doubt that will change now. Besides, it was only kinky the first time

[Col. Tartleton]

Yeah Nurgle is the best. All of the drawbacks of Nurgle (feeling and looking like crap) are just as bad for the other gods. Champions of Khorne cut their faces off to reveal their skull and do all kinds of body modifications, slaanesh followers look like meth addicted beastmen, and Tzeentchian followers are best described as an eclectic mix of fish, bird, fire, and man.

Champions of Slaanesh are beautiful but the followers are terrifying looking.

Nurgle is the great equalizer. They all look like emaciated muck covered undead. They keep their humanity and they're a bunch of jolly zombie pirates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

[Ivellis]

I don't automatically become a murderer by following Tzeentch. So, yeah my only choice is Tzeentch.

[Dylius]

Maybe some don't have a choice. They might just pray to ALL the chaos gods for power, ect. and only one answers (I don't really know much about chaos so please tell me if this is wrong).

But I do agree, I would much prefer to end up as a "jolly zombie pirate!"

[Mit Gas]

Why would you follow Nurgle? Nobody does out of free will, they're forced into it. imagine you've got terminal cancer - and then suddenly a voice starting whispering to you, promising to save you from certain death. That is what Nurgle does. He's usually the one who made you sick in the first place . He's just as "evil" as the other Chaos Gods, even if he happens to more caring about his followers.

Personally the only God I could imagine following would be Tzeentch. You have a very slim chance but at least you have one. Slaanesh is certain damnation and probably the worst one to follow. Cause he gives you heightened senses and pleasure ( or awesome looks), only to take it back (look at Lucius who was once a "beautiful" man and now looks horrible), turning you completely numb (Noise Marines e.g.). Like a drug. IMO a pretty bad choice.

And well, Khorne... we don't live a society where his worship would benefit you, maybe if we lived in a war-torn galaxy like the people in 40k do.

I believe Tzeentch (see the sorcerers of the TS legion - no mutation, great power) or all 4 are the only two viable choices. But it's like playing the lottery and the ticket price is your life/soul.

[Azulthar]

Nurgle all the way.

Tzeentch followers are just deluding themselves. Ambition, change, power...all meaningless, all ultimately futile. The hope that you can somehow change your destiny, take control of it...wishful thinking at its worst.

Accept the inevitable. Accept Nurgle!

[Korraz]

The true question is: Why would anybody worship any Chaos God ever, looking a the consequences? Disregarding the deranged and insane, of course.
If the Imperium made an Chaos Awarness TV-Spot, instead of shooting everybody that heard the word "Khorne" even once, Chaos might be a nonissue for them.

[KingDeath]

The true question is: Why would anybody worship any Chaos God ever, looking a the consequences? Disregarding the deranged and insane, of course.
If the Imperium made an Chaos Awarness TV-Spot, instead of shooting everybody that heard the word "Khorne" even once, Chaos might be a nonissue for them.

Because you think that you are the one in a billion who can become a demigod himself?
Because you do not see the ultimate consequences but only the power that your god can grant you now?
Because unlike the carriongod the dark gods actualy listen, once in a while, to your pathetic little prayers for help?

Worshiping chaos can have many reasons, it can even appear logical at first and the ultimate, likely, outcome can be easily ignored ( for a while ).

[Hendarion]

Well, Korraz, it's not like: "OK, today I decided to start praying a Chaos-God". Chaos is subtle. Chaos attracts, seduces, distracts. You'll notice only when it is to late to step back, when Chaos already got you. And at that point you already see it from another point of view. That is how I have understood chaos. And it weirdly is really close to the Dark Side of the Force

PS:
Following your logic, why would anybody start smoking or do drugs?

[Spider-pope]

The true question is: Why would anybody worship any Chaos God ever, looking a the consequences? Disregarding the deranged and insane, of course.
If the Imperium made an Chaos Awarness TV-Spot, instead of shooting everybody that heard the word "Khorne" even once, Chaos might be a nonissue for them.

Why is anyone stupid enough to take drugs? The consequences can be pretty dire yet ****** are still willing to stuff themselves full of noxious substances for a momentary false happiness.

For the common citizen, Chaos corruption seems to be a gradual thing, you don't just wake up one day with the desire to staple babies to your head (usually).

Look at it this way, you are stuck as a citizen in an incredibly fascist regime. Everything you do is controlled by the state. You read what they tell you to, you do what they tell you do, you work until exhaustion for a pittance.

And then Mr Tony Zeentch moves to your hab. And he starts to tell you about a wonderful club where groups of like minded friends get to have a chat about whatever they want, and the state doesnt have any say.

Then gradually the talks turn to the Emperor and how maybe, just maybe there is someone else who would listen to your prayers. And they can give you freedom and power and whatever your heart desires and all you have to do is worship them! What a bargain. By the time the mutations start to appear and you begin killing babies you're either too indoctrinated to care, or so afraid of Imperial reprisals that you have to keep going just to stay alive.

As for spreading Chaos Awareness, like an anti-drug commercial, in 40k words have power. If you have a vox broadcast repeating the names Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch and Slaanesh every day, you end up with a population of raving lunatics and the walls bleeding.

[totgeboren]

I think my first choice would be Slaanesh, because I enjoy life, and enjoy doing stuff that might be seen as going "over the edge". Also, who would not want to be fabulous all the time!?
Regarding drugs. They are a bit like guns. They can be used for good or for evil, it's all in the hands of the user. But to say that someone who uses a gun is stupid is taking it a bit too far. There are people who can own a gun and use it sensibly. The exact same thing goes for drugs. Anyway, that was off-topic!

Regarding the Gods, I can say that I'm quite the optimist, and always seek ways to turn situations favourable, so Tzeench appeals to me in that regard.
I have also practised MMA for many years, but I don't think Khorne would be for me. It's the contest and the win that gives the thrill, not the violence.

Nurgle seems jolly, in the way people are jolly when they have given up hope and just accepts whatever comes their way, which is not me at all, so Nurgle does not really appeal to me. Immortality sure, but the other Gods can grant that too, without the price Nurgle demands.

Also, I would expect that the true nature of the Chaos Gods would not really be known to their followers. They would think their God cares. (You know how the rationale goes, "The Prophet/Messiah/Messenger/Whatever told us so, and then he did a miracle, so it must be true!")
I mean, few would pay homage to a God that has said it could not care less about you or your problems.

And regarding that the chaos cults seem to be positivly insane, well religion makes people do all kinda of insane stuff. If the Chaos Gods were real, and could inspire/possess people, you can bet sects would pop up all over the place all the time. Just look at all the sects and religions we have today! They generally have less to back them up than the cultists of 40k, and they are thriving all over the place.

[jasdc1]

Khorne = plastic berzerkers