Heralds of Decay: The Nurgle Death Priests
This art is for the Black Crusade supplement “The Tome of Decay”. The book is from the Warhammer 40K based roleplaying game called Black Crusade, where you take the role of the “bad guys” in 40K. “The Tome of Decay” is filled with all sorts of wonderfully nasty rules for embracing Grandfather Nurgle and his various plagues.
The Servants of Decay
Nurgle Death Priests are macabre heralds of the Plague God, embodying his twisted gifts of disease and decay. Clad in rotting robes and rusting armor, they walk among the battlefield spreading Nurgle’s blessings to allies and foes alike. Their gnarled staves, often topped with grotesque icons, serve as both weapons and conduits for their unholy powers. Despite their unsettling appearance, they exude a paradoxical aura of joy, for they view the affliction they spread as a gift of eternal endurance.
Masters of Plaguecraft
Death Priests wield a horrifying arsenal of plagues and diseases, tailoring them to cripple their enemies and bolster their allies. With whispered incantations, they summon bloated flies, oozing pustules, and choking mists to sow chaos. They can turn the battlefield into a festering swamp of corruption, draining the strength of even the mightiest warriors. Their knowledge of Nurgle’s alchemy allows them to mend the grotesque wounds of their followers, ensuring the Plague God’s servants fight on through unimaginable agony.
Bearers of Nurgle’s Philosophy
Though reviled by their enemies, Nurgle Death Priests see themselves as messengers of enlightenment. To them, decay and disease are natural aspects of life, symbols of rebirth and transformation. Their sermons are laced with grim humor and infectious zeal, aiming to convince others to embrace the inevitability of entropy. Those who succumb to their influence often find themselves succumbing not only to sickness but also to a warped sense of purpose, reveling in the grotesque gifts of their new patron.
Unholy Bonds with Nurgle’s Minions
Death Priests share a unique kinship with the daemonic minions of Nurgle, from shambling Plaguebearers to lumbering Great Unclean Ones. These unholy alliances make them even more dangerous, as their daemonic allies swarm the battlefield, reinforcing the corruption spread by their mortal counterparts. Together, they form a grotesque symphony of decay, an unstoppable tide that consumes all life in its path, leaving behind only a pestilent wasteland in their wake.
