Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness (1988) - Codex Compliant

For the 10th episode of Codex Compliant we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the first of the Realm of Chaos books (and inadvertently make the episode twice as long as intended).
Featuring the voices of:
Bruva Alfabusa - / alfabusa
Drummer Matt - / drumblebee
Special thanks to Storm Knight for sending us the books and also a thank you to 'Z' on Patreon, who pointed out some rather silly errors we made that were hastily removed from the final video.
C64 outro - R-Type
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[@alfabusa]

This book is great and SO ARE YOU. The effort you put down in this does not go unappreciated.

[@SnipeandWib]

Thank you, good Alfabus.

[@WAcrobat19]

You should try narrating Horus Heresy audiobooks

[@Maxibon2007]

Bruva Alfabusa WHUTT ABOUT MAALAL!!!!

[@ronnocrex1290]

Your narration at the beginning was amazing

[@raymondhamill270]

@@Maxibon2007 he doesn't exist shut up about it!

[@ardyer3]

My "favorite" thing from Slaves to Darkness is the ability to create a Bloodthirster caring an axe possessed by another Bloodthirster that can break and unleash said Bloodthirster.

[@phil8821]

I've personally always liked the idea of an empire army facing off against a chaos warband, led by a goblin lord of Khorne, armed with a plasma cannon.

[@ultramarinescaptain3840]

What?

[@ardyer3]

@@ultramarinescaptain3840 Rogue Trader and 3rd edition fantasy were wild times 😂

[@vulkhanasennet9961]

"Hold me back Bro! Hold me back!" "Now swing me forward" "Naa you fuckin up let me at em imma git um myself!"

[@jellyfisharedumb9783]

Matryoshka bloodthirtster

[@kyubimage9526]

"If the Horus Heresy was so cool, how come there's no Horus Heresy 2?" ~Abaddon Probably

[@indigodragon78]

Fabius Bile tried to get it going but Abby filed a pretty harsh copyright claim.

[@weldonwin]

Horus Heresy 2- Daemonic Boogaloo

[@flatheadgg2443]

If cawl continues toying with traitor genes there probably will be

[@InquisitorThomas]

*Meanwhile in some corner of the Galaxy while the Xenos Twiddle their thumbs* Orks: So what have you guys been up to? Necron: Not Much, just been getting into some fights with the Adeptus Mechanicus. Orks: Cool Cool. What about you Tau? Tau: Umm... not much... Eldar: Well we brought Guilliman back from the dead that one time. Necron: Oh shit, we're going to get "Ogre Kingdomed" aren't we?

[@GradeAMolvanian]

Because Abbadon is an armless failure.

[@aussiematt4517]

That musky, silly voiced, chainsaw wielding goblin that came back as an undead champion is Skeletor, that's Skeletor.

[@Mrkabrat]

*Muffled "nyah He-Man" in the distance*

[@Legomaster-nj4oo]

Or Under fell Papyrus after watching Evil Dead 2 Army’s of Darkness

[@kholtonthebarbarian2590]

Legomaster5264 I am probably the only person in this comment section that understood everything you just said but I appreciate and am so glad that you did.

[@BigJubble]

11:49 My little Fleshhound: Slaughter is Magic.

[@BLIGHTROT666]

MAGIC!? SKARBRAND HAAAATES MAAAGIC!

[@weldonwin]

My Little Khorny: Friendship is *SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!!*

[@Bawgle]

"Bilateral Gynandromorphism" is my new band name

[@Bawgle]

Ok nevermind now its "Khornate Cutie Mark"

[@tim4330]

Finally a hermaphrodite with a crab claw and a crown of noses, I can finally have a character I can relate to on a personal level

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Thanks to these books, I can relate to my ideal fictional character. A bird-footed, three eyed, winged Tzaangor with an axe, a bolter and the ability to turn into blue horrors when he dies.

[@bobsomething4733]

There is an interesting angle, at least in my head, as to WHY one of the gifts of Slaanesh is becoming Hermaphrodite which goes beyond just the 'lol kinky' aspect: Slaanesh isn't just about sensual and sexual pleasures, it is about all form of pleasures and experiences. When Slaanesh magically gives you a combo of male+female organs at once, both of which very likely functional, it opens up entirely new ways of seeing oneself as well as interacting with others (and yes, including some new kinky sex positions). These new experiences the transformation brings are, well, new experiences and thus new feelings and sensorial input. The Chaos Gods are more than just their baseline, watered down version (Khorne being strength, honor and survival beside just bloodlust) so this gift from Slaanesh is very much in keeping with both the cookie cutter version of Prince of Pleasure (the 'lol kinky' side) and the more nuanced aspects. It changes you and open up new experiences in life, especially if the gift also happen to give a formerly male Champion the ability to carry to term a (mutated, probably, because that's what Chaos does) child. It makes the Slaaneshi Champion something new and different from their original state. This change, this very idea of alterations and mutability is the very nature of Chaos. So yes, I do think there is a bit of a deeper symbolism to Slaanesh's Hermaphroditic imagery and its bestowment upon some Champions.

[@afl2138]

We evolve with new experiences -Experience everything. Evolution leads to perfection - Perfection is a path not a goal.

[@brandubh7046]

There is also the fact that back then, the Space Marines weren't neutered combat-monks. And neither were the Orks now that I think about it.

[@ParanoidPacific]

I buy it

[@adamr6621]

That's a great way of putting it~

[@theautisticguitarist7560]

Slaanesh said Trans Rights

[@LordProteus]

"We can never go back and play the specific builds of Team Fortress 2 that we played too much of." *Gameboy Robocop theme playing* *A single tear runs down cheek*

[@davidjames1068]

Fun fact : some of the images were reused from Steve Jackson's Sorcery! an adventure gamebook series released in 1983. Since they cover a different universe and had a different style they really standout.

[@stormknightmd]

Oh, this was so good to see. It’s nice to see the younger fans take on these books. I have had both books since 98 or so. When I broke them out at a WHFRP session, the shrieks of horror from the players were hilarious, not to mention the more imaginative curses they would throw at me. XD My favorite illustration of the Emperor vs Horus is in Lost and the Damned.

[@librarianseth5572]

So, have you received a child in the mail yet?

[@stormknightmd]

@@librarianseth5572 Fortunately, no.

[@Agamemnon2]

I love the 1st edition 40k Chaos aesthetic. They lost the entire gigerian semi-organic armor vibe in 2E, which I think was a mistake.

[@maxbrandt6]

I could not agree with you more! I miss that look too.

[@drfishynoooo9960]

Entertaining as always. As much as I enjoy the new miniatures GW release, something about the lore and art of the older generations of 40k & fantasy are so enthralling. Also - CRUSTACEANS FOR THE THRONE OF LEWDSMUT CRABFONDLE!

[@gigaflynn_]

"roughly finite in length" 😂😂🤣🤣 Pretty sure I'm dead now.

[@asteroidrules]

Hey, that old Alpha Legion logo is the Aurora Chapter logo upside down, this has implications...

[@cursedfate838]

"Hey is that a upside down kornite cuitemark" Seems someone might have some mlp knowledge xD

[@40KTheories]

Fun fact(s): The Illuminati were alluded to in the novel Atlas Infernal and the Sensei were stated to be psykers in Lost and the Damned. Good job guys ^^

[@Longfang91]

Thanks, Rem!

[@SnipeandWib]

Yeah how much had changed in 40k by the second book fascinating, and thanks :)

[@40KTheories]

Looking forward to you covering Lost and the Damned. Is that next or do you guys have anything else lined up beforehand?

[@SnipeandWib]

It'll be a while before we do that one, just because they take so much more time to cover than a regular codex or what have you. Gonna do something a little easier next episode as a reward haha

[@ravensroost3224]

Wonderful, well done! Also, you realise we'll expect Wib to paint a model of Colin now right? =)

[@michaeltrant6113]

Honestly I would just use this to generate some amazing bosses in my 40k RPGs. Name, look, weppons, boons, and retinue. BBEG is made for you. Love the old books and lore. Just feels more in depth than the modern ones...

[@ronaldowens5025]

I run first addition Warhammer rpg for my son and his friends. I have first additions of all three books that I have owned since the early 90s. They are beat up to say the least but much like AD&D second addition ( of witch I own about 3/4 of the supplements ) it just is a much more detailed system. They gave you a world with cultures fully explored not a blip of detail to work off of.

[@truemind1018]

stp 1:get this book step 2:go into the warp step 3:use the true name generator and just start blabbering out randoms roll till one of them works step 4:???? step 5:profit?

[@velstro]

I'm disappointed that the outro wasn't a song by Bolt Thrower. *This lack of death metal offends Slaanesh.*

[@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939]

Somebody else who remembers Bolt Thrower!

[@ActionCow69]

@@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939 it would've been perfect, just grab Through The Eye Of Terror or something else from Realm Of Chaos

[@thorinwhitewolf1213]

@@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939 you say that and I have a lot of the old bolt thrower albums.

[@--enyo--]

Maybe copyright issues? But yeah.

[@fan9775]

Bolt thrower? Pfft, please...get outta my way.

[@michaelmurphy2786]

This just makes me remember Fantasy Warlord, an attempt by two ex-GW employees in the early 90s who tried to make a rival game, with full hero customization, far more awkward rules, and even two different races of Orc with an originally named monthly magazine called Red Giant.

[@kaldriver6241]

Being an older fella, I'm so enjoying the sense of nostalgia that this series has given me.

[@lioneljonson8556]

Alternate title: Warhammer 40000: Old Book Mk.2 Also, the background face on the cover is gold.

[@BaronR]

4:00 The best thing about this video, is the gargoyle!

[@darkmystic7764]

Codex Compliant. More like "Another video of Snipe and Wib being amazing for 20 minutes".

[@Erikjust]

Question am i the only one who wants Alfabusa and the rest of the TTS crew do an audio play version of Ian Watsons 40k books? That would be glorious and ofcourse the helbrecht voice should be the main narrator.

[@--enyo--]

What sin did they commit to merit this punishment? XD

[@BulkBrogan.]

I love the idea of "The Great UnNameable One" the idea of the Chaos gods actually being shifting melding ya know CHAOTIC beings instead of strict unchanging seperated divided factions of fully different beings

[@danukil7703]

6:16 "He Who Must Not Be Named" maybe Rowling is secretly an old-school Warhammer fan XD

[@Aliexster]

Oh, so that's where the Heroquest Gargoyle came from!

[@ArkadiBolschek]

A Bloodthirster by any other name...

[@everydaymadnesseveryday]

They cost how much now?! Excuse me, I need to go search the loft a minute...

[@chrisplumb4284]

The symbol legend is also in the original 'epic' scale space marine game of the Horus Heresy - Adeptus Titanicus etc

[@emile1365]

As cool as this is, your take on "'Ere We Go" and "Waaargh Orks" the data inload would be much appreciated. Keep up the excellent work.

[@CanuckWolfman]

All hail Lewdsmut Crabfondle, the greatest of all Slaaneshi Daemons!

[@finneganbyrne1012]

You probably won’t see this because of the late reply, but thank you for making me aware of the Chaos Champions/Renegades creator. I’ve been looking for something like this for so long. Keep up the great content

[@n543576]

Its incredible how the whole emperor text to speech series introduced me to so many awesomely talented and passionate youtubers. The past few days I just been binge watching all of your old videos and despite me not personally really knowing much about the 40k series i enjoy how much you guys do and how well you explain the older vintaged history surround it. Keep up the amazing work, and i hope you guys do another video of you playing a game of 40k against each other while drinking again. That video was god tier.

[@rickusjamesus]

You guys are hilarious and insightful! I really enjoy your videos! Also, I agree completely about how the game has changed over time and how beautiful that is. Thanks!

[@zankuhammer4423]

All hail quipp he shall deliver us from pun based Punishment

[@danielmarquez2860]

Hail the great pun one

[@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939]

I'm fairly certain you already know this, but using a symbol to identify an artist was also used in White Dwarf in at least the 80s.

[@leefisher6766]

Just found this very enjoyable video.... I remember a friend and I rolled up two armbands for fantasy, his leader hated wizards and winged creatures, his second in command was a winged wizard. Still makes me laugh now!

[@LBerti96]

I’ve got to say that your codex compliant series is by far the best Warhammer related content on KZbin, next to Midwinter Minis’ retro unboxing of the Warhammer 40k 2nd edition box set and the correlating painting videos

[@Mrkabrat]

This and the "The Lost and The Damned" book are gems from another time

[@distroya_]

This book sounds like it's right up my street, as I loves me some Slaanesh. The artwork alone is incredibly inspiring. Love this video too, as always with your content. Thank you for doing what you do. You two are amazing.

[@joakimhansen7733]

This video was well worth the wait, bravo!

[@nerowulfee9210]

10:23 Thanks. Now I know what name I will give to my next Dark Heresy character. THIS IS TOTALLY CANON GUYS!

[@winterlong08]

First mention I remember of realms of chaos was in first edition WFRPG in the adventure the oldenhiemer contract or something similar

[@jo88hn88]

I like these old school codex videos the most

[@theshowgun5114]

the extra time and effort you put into this video really shows.

[@matttaylor308]

In the early 2000s, I played a series of games with a friend based on slamming together then 3rd Ed 40k rules and this book (and this book alone). Amongst other things, one of our champions ended up as the zombie servant of the other player, one battle got entirely dominated by a giant ever-growing blob monster caused by the fleshy curse spell, the sheer number of mutations gained between battles defeated our modelling speeds so we ended up adding blu-tack shapes to the models, and one battle ended with nearly all models being taking out by hostile terrain effects, rather than each other.

[@johnpolack9168]

Every time you guys use that music I have flashbacks of hours and hours spent buying giant robot parts. It makes me smile to myself. Thank you. Great video as always.

[@FnRenner]

"If you ever get a baby in the post, you'll know why." Jesus H. Christ, my man. That line made my chortle, chuckle and snot all at the same time. That gawd awful joke damn near killed my simple ass lol. Well done, sir. Well done indeed!

[@mus_cetiner]

Two books I had, loved and cherished, I gave them to a friend many years ago. How I regret that. Thank you for this awesome video, brings back plenty of memories. The art was just wonderful.

[@MikeDavison]

Well done, one of my favorite OldHammer books.

[@temmy9]

My fluff OCD is triggered. Sensei weren't psychic blanks, but rather embodied the uncorrupted warp, and were thus invisible to chaos and psychics (including the Emperor) in the same way a drop of water in the ocean is invisible.

[@seancarter8528]

Well this is a perfect end to a long day at work. Thank you for the great video!

[@KnightRider378]

As Colin and a fan of Khorne, I appreciate Colin the Khornate's existence. Also that you spelled the name right.

[@avatar6699]

Seems Snipe's dice are Slaanesh worshipers. :P

[@Noisius]

They are now holy artefact! For *SLAANESH!*

[@santasalligators]

Oh...ma... gawds...they reviewed the mail!!! Glorious evening to you two. May the fourth be with you!

[@billdagrasshawking]

I cant get enough of this series, please keep the videos coming!

[@stephenbond1990]

Early in the 20th century some babies actually did get sent through the post, though it was made illegal pretty quick.

[@hogger9315]

Can’t believe you missed X out. This is the most begrudging like I’ve ever given a video.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Thanks to this video, I have been using the name Fliomg'gakl (Note the change in spelling) for years whenever I can.

[@censor2112]

Love your videos and the front mission music was just the cherry in top

[@michaelbarron8495]

Awesome, really looking forward to RoC:TLatD. And for the record, I was wondering if you would note that a Black Legion captain came standard-equipped with "frog grenades". We silly kids got way more mileage out of that one than we had any right to.

[@gallowsgradient]

Those names aren't bad. Back in the '80s I rolled up Longbone Danglesword.

[@GazpachoTabletop]

Looked forward to this ever since I saw you had got your hands on this book. Do jealous. Great idea for a video series

[@agentorangecb1]

Man, that intro was relatable. Sounds just like my local pub

[@glenmurie]

I have super fond memories of playing the first edition of WFRP in high school with my friends. I think my character ended up being an insane cripple after a career of going from rat catcher to jailer to torturer. Hard to remember. It was a long time ago.

[@Melvaius]

Awesome video, nice to see these old books being explored.

[@joehough838]

Excellent vid. I will be going back to look at my copy with a new appreciation for the books regardless of what has changed.

[@garethwood8332]

Great video chaps. Really like the colour section, especially where one of the Chaos Marines has the Marines Malevolent colour scheme.

[@Dracowinges]

Informative and entertaining, thank you.

[@TheGameCraftDragon]

I wish I still had my copies. I bought these originally when they were new.

[@geoffwalker9210]

Love this book. I wish i still had mine, but its long gone. I remember spending hours reading and staring at every picture. I never realized the art had keys! One of my old bosses at GW had pdfs of all these old books so I can still look at it, but its not the same as having the physical book.

[@corvusalbus7276]

Okay, I'm fairly certain the demon I rolled is of Nurgle: Chewbog Mucustoad

[@joncarroll2040]

Question about the Grey Knights: are there painted examples and if so are they actually grey insteaf of the current gun metal scheme? I could swear I saw a picture of them as grey at some point but I have no idea where.

[@IainK76]

Nice. I love this book. I got my first led Zep album around this time and the two went hand in hand for hrs!!!

[@samualwatkins]

I was half expecting the guitar wielding noise marine to appear right after that opening with something like, "AND HEAVY METAL!".

[@Onbutteredtoast]

9:47 I’ll now hense forth be known as ........ *click noises *click noises “Green slobber bite”

[@bloodspatteredguitar]

"...the sateless bloodlust..." What a phrase!

[@maxbubba66]

Fantastic series. I got this book for my 10th birthday. Boobs, blood gods and all. Can't wait for the next video. P.S. I paid £45 for my copy of STD but have only been able to find £200+ prices for the second volume. Probably shouldn't have recycled my original copy in the late 90s. Keep up the good work and thanks for a very nostalgic watch.

[@asteroidrules]

Oddly enough hermaphroditism is also a chaos reward of Slaanesh found in the Black Crusade RPG, and it's pretty much the same as it is here.

[@SigveSolvaag]

Hi, just wanted to say I really liked these videos that dig into the first edition of 40k. I'm going to try and play it with my mates. This era of GW seemed far more DIY, which is a big plus for me. At the end of the video, you mention playing older editions, and there's definitely a movement to play older editions of D&D these days (some never stopped). Personally, I really like the freedom that the 1981 (Moldvay) version of D&D. Keep these videos coming!

[@Lex-Cypher]

Awesome work! You guys are great.

[@Shadow-ls4eg]

Another awesome video by snipe and wib, it was really cool meeting you at warhammer fest

[@Powoga]

I'm kinda curious but too lazy to actually look it up: Does this book, or The Lost and the Damned, mention Malal at any point?

[@zinger-ff3zm]

Great video, keep up the amazing work

[@glenmurie]

The image of some obsessive collector of warhammer stuff getting a baby in the mail made me laugh. Best part of the video.

[@richtheunstable3359]

Thought i'd give this a relisten as i build terrain for a realm of chaos campaign. Been wanting to play one for 20yrs, although my intoduction was the paths to glory warband rules from 6th ed WFB. Now finally have found people mad enought to give it a go in its origional form.

[@WeOnlyEatSoup]

The music in your videos is fantastic! It's makes me think of old playstation JRPGs like Legend of the Dragooon

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Using old names is a way of maintaining GWs trademarks - Hasbro have done it for years with their Transformers IP

[@the_9ent]

There is really something special about the early books for 40k. Beakies, Greater Demon of Slaanesh in Minotaur form, detailed but weirdly intricate illustrations in only black and white. ❤️

[@nohiet]

Wild listening to the end of the video just after the recent Custodes retcon

[@Pastafari4]

I love the Realms of Chaos books. Even if you're just running the Tabletop RPGs they offer up a lot of ideas

[@coderedfield9179]

Please tell me the name of the grimdark sci fi jingle at the start of 5:00ish

[@anaterrofayinescrim]

Great video! but i'm afraid i've lost track track halfway through imagining that baby emperor demanding a nappy change. I'm still laughing... thanks!!

[@jmagowan12]

18:32 Snipe professin their love for the changer of ways there.

[@maxbrandt6]

I really enjoyed the old depictions of "traitor marines" from 1st edition. You're right, their power armor did become more of a weird mutation on their bodies instead of just a tech item worn, I miss that aesthetic. The newer models kinda sorta have that vibe going. And if you've watched The Death of Hope, you'll see some of those old school chaos marines in there! Very cool!

[@autumnVoid1138]

At 2:28 the random chaos warrior has some pretty cool armor I particularly like the style of the helmet

[@benoliver5593]

dont know how i skipped this video last year glad i found it tho

[@AFnord]

Even if not outright stated that it's the same universe, if my memory serves (it's been a few years since I last read these books) they do have rules for WHFB Chaos champions with some 40k equipment, like plasma pistols. Talisman, which is set in the WHFB universe (the 80's version of it) does have an expansion where the characters are able to travel to the 40k universe, and bring back wargear, like bolters and such though. But GW has made it very clear that any such connections from old fluff is no longer relevant in the current fluff, and that the two settings are nowadays completely separate. So even if 80's GW flirted quite a bit with the idea of the WHFB & 40k settings being connected, come 2nd edition 40k/4th edition fantasy, they no longer were. And the art in these books are great. Few RPG or wargaming books from the 80's were as consistently good as these.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

AFnord actually they were still connected as late as the early 2000s; the Fantasy background book 'Liber Chaotica' is presented as the work of an in-universe scholar driven insane by Chaos and a handful of parts are visions he has of 40k. What it would probably be more accurate to say is that the commonly held fanon by some people that the Warhammer world is a planet somewhere in the 40k galaxy (and that Sigmar/Nagash/insertchoicehere is one of the lost Primarchs) is not true, but they are connected via the Warp.

[@AFnord]

@@lordofuzkulak8308 Wonder if Liber Chaotica treated that more as an easter egg, or if it was an intended connection. Because I remember at the time (it was shortly after I got into Warhammer) GW was already quite clear on their stance. That and "Squats never existed" (you were not allowed to mention Squats on their forum, they would lock any threads about them and repeated posting would get you banned).