In its endless war against Humanity’s eternal foe, the Inquisition employs many weapons. The relentless pursuit of victory drives some Inquisitors to extreme measures, compelling them to harness the very powers of the enemy they seek to destroy. In such a pursuit, purity is often the first casualty. Some of the forces these servants strive to command are so perilous that even speaking of them invites disturbance. And while such tools are claimed to serve the Imperium’s best interests, they pose a grave danger both to its enemies, and to those who dare to wield them.
Perhaps the most unthinkable instrument in the hands of a radical Inquisitor is the Daemonhost – a blasphemous reliquary for a daemon, bound within a cage of flesh; a slave that cannot be owned, a damned and forbidden instrument born in the Warp itself.
Add Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy to your wishlist to resist the looming influence of this malice and affirm your loyalty to the God-Emperor. If you have already done so, then heed this account and study this blasphemous phenomenon so that you may guard yourself against the threat it poses.
THE CREATION OF A DAEMONHOST
The birth of a Daemonhost is an act of pure heresy and torment. The details of the summoning and binding rituals are kept within the Inquisition's most forbidden vaults. Simply showing interest in such knowledge can spell the end for an Inquisitor’s life. However, this does not deter certain servants of the sacred Ordos from invoking it in times of desperation.
First, a host must be selected. The process for this is one that is hidden from most, a terrible practice where the body and soul of the host are prepared for the daemonic presence. Binding rituals, chains, and prayers are all used to prepare the living prison for the daemon.
The ritual of summoning and binding is further steeped in heretical practices. The mere mention of it in some circles would be enough to condemn a curious soul to purging flames. The binding of daemonic essence to flesh is appalling to witness, twisting the host's body and soul irrevocably and utterly.
If the ritual was successful – which it often is not – the result is a Daemonhost: a cage containing eternal fury and hatred towards its master. For a Daemonhost is not a creature that can ever be truly owned.
UNTAMED WEAPON
A Daemonhost is far more than a captive horror of the Warp. For the one who imprisoned it, it becomes a weapon – a conduit of Warp power that can be unleashed upon the enemies of Humanity.
And when the time comes to use this unholy instrument, a Daemonhost’s bindings, which keep the creature dormant, are loosened. They cannot be fully removed to prevent the monster's escape, yet must be weakened to grant it enough freedom to unleash its power into the material world.
The effect is immediate and catastrophic – a Daemonhost erupts into motion, surging with deadly immaterial energy. Guiding this devastation requires precise control. The bindings suppress the creature, but every use of its power carries a price. Wards weaken, runes fracture, and control becomes ever more tenuous.
THE INQUISITION ANATHEMA
Despite the monstrosity of the Daemonhost's creation and its very nature, opinion within the Inquisition is divided. For some, a Daemonhost is an unthinkable abomination that should never be used under any circumstances. However, for others more pragmatic in outlook, it is a necessary evil – one whose creation justifies all associated risks.
The Imperium does not sanction the creation of Daemonhosts. The practice exists in a shadowed space between secret study and outright heresy, tolerated only when conducted by powerful figures whose authority shields them from immediate reprisal. Such is the reality in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy as well.
Between both positions lies tension and uneasiness. The consequences of these practices can be catastrophic, yet the power they grant is near boundless. A Daemonhost represents more than a weapon or a shackled warp-spawn. It is a symbol of the dangerous philosophy that takes root within the Imperium’s most powerful guardians, the Inquisition. It is the belief that to defeat the darkness, one must be willing to wield it.
Thus, Acolyte, steel yourself for all manner of encounters. Let not the prepared shrink from facing even such a horror as a Daemonhost – for you will face them in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy.
Support the Inquisition and Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy development by wishlisting the game and becoming a founder on our website.
If, after reading this report, you feel that your faith falters, then immediately contact your Inquisitor superior. May your loyalty be strong enough to resist the influence of such a being. It will be tested soon enough.
Await further instructions, Acolyte.