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Death Head

Death Heads are thrown weapons used by the forces of Nurgle.

They are similar in form and function to Blight Grenades. A particularly powerful Death Head is the Plague Skull of Glothila.

White Dwarf 121 (1990-01)

Here the Death Head is described as being made from the skull of a follower of Nurgle. Contrast this with the final text in Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned below, wherein a Death Head is described as being made from the skull of an enemy. This latter definition ties in with the piece of fiction, which is the same in both sources.

White Dwarf 121 (Jan 1990), p18 — Death Head of Nurgle

A Death Head is made from the skull of a former mortal worshipper of Nurgle. The more powerful the servant the better, so the head of a fallen Champion is the most highly favoured. The head is covered with wax mixed with blood to make it watertight. Pus drawn from a Great Unclean One is poured into the brain cavity and then sealed in with more wax. The result is a missile which will burst when it is thrown, scattering its noxious contents over the unfortunate enemy.

A Death Head can be thrown up to 6". It is represented by a circular card template with a 1" radius. All models within the template automatically contract Nurgle's Rot - no test is taken, the victims contract the disease automatically.

Nostag Champion of Nurgle looked at the Death Head. Once it had adorned the shoulders of Doras Varn, the most handsome of all Champions of Slaanesh. Nostag took a firm grip on the waxy orb, thinking as he did so how Doras' famous profile had lost much of its boyish charm. He lobbed the object high into the air, watching with satisfaction as it sailed into the enemy ranks.

The dark object spun through the air and smashed onto the naked pate of Gorban Champion of Khorne, spattering blood and pus over his luckless followers. Gorban reeled as the putrid stuff burned into his face.

"Khorne," he cried, "Pity me!" But it was too late. He felt his flesh churning with the foul energy of the Death Head and knew he was doomed.

Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned (1990)

Realm of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned (1990), p27 — Death Head of Nurgle

A Death Head is made from the skull of a conquered foe of Nurgle. The more powerful the enemy the better, so the head of a fallen Champion is the most highly favoured. The head is covered with wax mixed with blood to make it watertight. Pus drawn from a Great Unclean One is poured into the brain cavity and then sealed in with more wax. The result is a missile which will burst when it is thrown, scattering its noxious contents over the unfortunate enemy.

A Death Head can be thrown up to 6". It is represented by a circular card template with a 1" radius. All models within the template automatically contract Nurgle's Rot - no test is taken, the victims contract the disease automatically.

Nostag Champion of Nurgle looked at the Death Head. Once it had adorned the shoulders of Doras Varn, the most handsome of all Champions of Slaanesh. Nostag took a firm grip on the waxy orb, thinking as he did so how Doras' famous profile had lost much of its boyish charm. He lobbed the object high into the air, watching with satisfaction as it sailed into the enemy ranks.

The dark object spun through the air and smashed onto the naked pate of Gorban Champion of Khorne, spattering blood and pus over his luckless followers. Gorban reeled as the putrid stuff burned into his face.

"Khorne," he cried, "Pity me!" But it was too late. He felt his flesh churning with the foul energy of the Death Head and knew he was doomed.

Codex: Chaos Daemons (2016)

Codex: Chaos Daemons (2016), p133 — Hellforged Artefacts of Nurgle

Death's Head of Duke Olaks — 5 Points

Duke Olaks was once a proud leader of an ancient people who foolishly ordered his scientists to formulate an elixir to make him immortal. It was with great delight that Nurgle bestowed upon him a terrible wasting sickness for his arrogance. So torturous was the incurable contagion's effect on the duke's undying body that Olaks demanded his scientists develop an antidote to the elixir so that death could finally free him from his eternal torment. Though they dutifully succeeded in this venture, Nurgle was far from finished with his newest plaything. Duke Olaks' head now serves as a potent weapon that can be cast amongst the Lord of Decay's enemies to spread the very same plague that once afflicted its long-dead owner.

RangeSAPType
12"14Assault 1, Large Blast, One Use Only, Poisoned (2+)

Herald of Nurgle only.