In the aftermath, the Imperium still stood and Horus was destroyed, but the Emperor was mortally wounded and the remnants of the traitorous Space Marine Legions fled. They retreated to the Eye of Terror, a section where warp space and real space collide, forming a truly nightmarish realm where the laws of nature have been twisted and corrupted.

From the Eye of Terror, the Chaos Space Marines launch their devastating Black Crusades against the Imperium. Over the years, these vile traitors and heretics have been mutated and changed by the warping influence of the Chaos powers, but they still carry on their ten thousand year old war against the Imperium!

To this day, the Chaos Space Marines still raid the Imperium. Striking from the Eye of Terror, they cause as much destruction and terror as they possibly can before retreating back to the safety of warp space. Occassionally, a powerful warlord will gather the many different Chaos Space Marine Legions to his cause and begin a massive invasion of the Imperium. These Black Crusades have destroyed world after world in the past, but they have always been stopped. Some say the Chaos Space Marines will never stop, that their raids and Black Crusades are merely testing the Imperium's defenses, waiting for the day when they can gather enough strength to smash the Imperium asunder.

The various Black Crusades and constant raids are carried out by Chaos Space Marine Lords (above). These vengeful warriors are brutal and cunning, having led hundreds of such incursions before. They are completely without mercy or remorse, gunning down innocents and prisoners with equal abandon.

The Aspiring Chaos Champion or Lord commands some of the toughest and depraved troops imaginable. Each Chaos Space Marine Lord is formidable by himself, but there are those that have been truly "blessed" by the Chaos gods, giving them terrible power and strength.

Chaos Space Marines who have devoted themselves to Khorne, the Chaos god of War, become Khorne Bezerkers. Their sole purpose is to get into grisly close combat and gather more blood and skulls for the throne of Khorne! The most infamous devotees are the Chaos Space Marines of the Worldeaters Chapter. They have become so crazed that they are uncontrollable, more like savage beasts than anything else!

Thousand Sons- The Thousand Sons became disciples of Tzeentch - the Chaos god of magic and change. Most of the Thousand Sons are psychic in some way, the more powerful of them are granted a boon from Tzeentch and become Chaos Sorcerers. Long ago, the Thousand Sons' bodies were disintigrated by a vicious spell that also sealed their souls in their armour. As a result, the only way to defeat these Chaos Space Marines is to totally destroy their armour, freeing their bodiless souls.

Plague Marines- Nurgle is the Chaos god of decay and pestilence. Chaos Space Marines who worship this foul lord have sworn to spread his grotesque plagues everywhere. Because of this, the Chaos Space Marines are themselves infected with all sorts of horrible wasting diseases. The illnesses slowly start to cause them to decay, deadening them to pain. Unfeeling, they ignore the wounds they suffer on the battlefields, carrying on as if nothing had happened.

Noise Marines- The Noise Marines are former Chaos Space Marines who have succumbed to the promises of Slaanesh - the Chaos god of sensual pleasure. An eternity of experience has made it so that only the most hideous cacaphony of screams and moans of the dying can release them from their otherwise emotionless state. Noise Marines are armed with a bizarre mix of aural weaponry, along with the Chaos Space Marine Havocs (Chaos Space Marine heavy weapon wielding psychos), they form most of the heavy support for the Chaos Space Marine force.

When the Chaos Space Marine Legions fled to the Eye of Terror, they took all their equipment with them, including their Terminator Armour, vehicles and dreadnoughts. Of course, the strange warping effects of the region affect vehicles as well as men.

When the Chaos Space Marine Legions fled, they took everything they could with them. They have been forced over the centuries to repair and modify their equipment. Now, they little resemble the vehicles and machinery they once where.

There are Chaos Rhino transports, Chaos Predator Tanks and Chaos Land Raiders, but the most changed is the Chaos Dreadnought.

Dreadnoughts are incredible machines of destruction. They carry the most potent of weaponry and their armoured bodies are practically impenetrable. The Chaos Dreadnought houses the crippled body of a Chaos Champion, one of those destined for greatness. When they find themselves trapped in the metal tomb of the dreadnought, many go insane with rage and grief at being confined to slowly rot throughout all eternity.

The Chaos Space Marines aren't the only inhabitants of the Eye of Terror. Daemons, denizens of the Warp, can also manifest themselves here. These are the servants of the Chaos gods, though they vary in shape and size, their only purpose is the complete destruction of everything in their path. For instance, the Bloodthirster of Khorne is a greater daemon, capable of crushing a tank in its bare hands, while the nurglings, tiny daemons of Nurgle, attempt to overwhelm their foes with vast numbers.

These are forces best not tampered with, but those seeking quick ways to power often call upon their aid, never realizing the price until it is much to late. However, the daemons of the Chaos gods are allies, often aiding the Chaos Space Marines in their battles against the Imperium.

If you have headed the siren call of Chaos (and who could blame you) and want to start your own Black Crusade, you need look no further than the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook. It contains everything a Chaos Space Marine Lord could desire, including the army list, background and some terrific art. Of course the Codex: Chaos is on the way with even more information that would make any Inquisitor's toes curl (Keep an eyestalk glued to White Dwarf and this website.). Until then, armed with the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook, you are well on the way towards complete victory. Let the galaxy burn!