The Enslavers in Warhammer 40,000 are terrifying and malevolent entities hailing from the Immaterium, also known as the Warp. These creatures are sometimes referred to as “Psy-Ghouls” due to their parasitic nature and their method of entering the material universe.
Enslavers are drawn to the psychic presence of sentient beings, particularly those who possess powerful psychic abilities. They use this psychic energy as a gateway to breach the veil between the Warp and the physical universe. Once they find a suitable psychic host, they enslave the mind of their victim, bending them to their will. Through this possession, Enslavers can control entire populations, spreading like a psychic plague across planets.
Physically, Enslavers are described as floating, jellyfish-like beings with numerous tendrils that can interface with the nervous system of their victims. Their appearance is otherworldly and horrifying, embodying the chaotic and unnatural nature of the Warp itself.
Historically, Enslavers were a significant threat during the War in Heaven, a cataclysmic conflict in the distant past of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. They were one of the many reasons that the Necrons, in their desperation, sought to use the power of the C’tan to combat the threat posed by the Old Ones and their creations, who were vulnerable to Enslaver predations due to their psychic capabilities.
The appearance of Enslavers in the present 41st millennium is rare but feared. When they do manifest, it is often in the aftermath of catastrophic warp events or in areas where the veil between the Warp and reality is thin. Their influence can devastate entire worlds, turning them into wastelands of madness and death.