Dechala
Dechala the Denied One is a Chaos Champion from Warhammer Fantasy Battle, being a High Elf who converted to worship of Slaanesh. She was one of the original Chaos special characters to be released back in the day for Warhammer as part of the Champions of Chaos splatbook, making her the first Slaanesh-themed special character - 4e only had the Undivided character Mordrek, the Khorne-aligned Scyla Anfingrimm and Arbaal, and the Tzeentch-aligned Aekold Helbrass and Egrimm van Horstmann. Sadly, she would only get to star in two editions; 6e would at least mention her in Hordes of Chaos, with stats following on the website and in Citadel Journal #50, but that would be her final hurrah.
Slaanesh champions tend to be quick 'n' choppy, and that tradition definitely started with Dechala; eight inches of movement, and then she's tossing out six attacks with Weapon Skill 8(!) and Initiative 10(!!), all of which are hitting at Strength 5 and due to a special rule prevent those wounded but not killed by her from being able to attack her for the rest of the game? Holy shit... She also has Hatred for all Khorne daemons and mark-bearers, and her "Dances of Slaanesh" give her a couple of special options, including imposing a -1 on To Hit rolls against her, giving herself a +1 to her own To Hit rolls, or trading 2 attacks of her own to automatically parry (and thus negate) one enemy attack per two she gives up. She admittedly can't take much punishment (only 2 Wounds), but at Toughness 5, that's still not as easy to strip away without cannonballs to the face.
One probable reason why she hasn't resurfaced is because of the complexity of her rules (doubtful, given Archaon and Nagash are still playable). Another is because "six-armed sword-waving battle-dancing lamia" is an image pretty damn close to the Marilith, a demon from Dungeons & Dragons, and GW fears accusations of copyright infringement if they use her. Then again, Square Enix gets away with it. A third is that "Dancing Slaughterer of Slaanesh" has been co-opted by that daemonic upstart The Masque. Lastly, now that Morathi and the Daughters of Khaine displaced her with the Lamian look, chances are slim of any official return in plastic. Her only hope is to get in Total War Warhammer or Warhammer: The Old World whenever the hell GW gets to releasing it.
The Legend[edit]
The Denied looks like an angry Elven maiden with six arms, milky white skin, a giant snake's body from the waist down, multiple sting-bearing tailtips that secrete a euphoria-inducing corrupting venom, and glowing deep blue eyes.
Originally a High Elven maiden during the first Chaos invasion, Dechala’s parents sacrificed her to a daemon prince of Slaanesh in exchange for protection from the Slaaneshi Daemons that were overrunning Ulthuan. The daemon prince (called Samael in GWs boundless creativity) agreed to the pact, but did not devour his price. Instead, he tutored her in the ways of Slaanesh and in time, she became a Chaos champion of her own. In time, she became angry at her spouse, who then complained before Slaanesh that his waifu had turned from him. Slaanesh reprimanded his servant, but offered a compromise: If she would return to him on her own volition, Samael would be allowed to do with her as he pleased. As long as she didn't and Samael still lived, she would never ascend to daemonhood. As a result, Dechala murdered her way across the Chaos Wastes, but daemonhood was eternally denied to her. She now leads the Tormentors, a Slaaneshi warband. Her minions actively take slaves and create drugs from the bodies of both the living and the dead, including one elixir so intoxicating and deadly that Dechala uses it to enslave people as it gradually twists them into that which must not be named. Though people have been saved from the Elixir's effects, the odds are against it, since so much as a drop is capable of making an individual into an addict. Because Dechala always needs slaves, her forces are eternally on the hunt.
Unfortunately, her position of primary Slaaneshi character was usurped by The Masque, and to a larger degree N'kari due to N'kari being her 40k counterpart and in GW's days of neglecting Fantasy everything that worked in the grimdarkness blahblahblah was just pasted back into Fantasy. Dechala was brought back for End Times, where she player a minor role in attacking the Druchii. She makes a cameo in the last End Times novel where she mocks Malekith by throwing Morathi's staff at his feet and claiming she fully belongs to Slaanesh now, then fights Tyrion after he gets turned into the Incarnate of Light. She is killed by him and is was presumed dead, however she made an unexpected return in Age of Sigmar with an audio drama named after herself; “The Denied” reveals she has finally become a full fledged daemon and is now regarded as an ancient and powerful servant of the Dark Prince and worshipped by mortals as “She Who Was Denied”.
On the Tabletop[edit]
In 5th edition, Dechala the Denied One is a special character who costs 355 points. She has Movement 8, Weapon Skill 8, Ballistic Skill 7, Strength 5, Toughness 5, Wounds 2, Initiative 10, Attacks 5(6) and Leadership 10. She carries a sextet of swords, is clad in Chaos Armour (4+ save), and has the Mark of Slaanesh (immune to psychology and break tests). She has the special rules Hatred (Daemons and Marked of Khorne) and Dances of Slaanesh; at the start of each turn, pick which of three battle-dances she is doing that turn. She has the Chaos Reward of Many Arms, giving her +1 Attack (hence boosting her from 5 to 6), and her weapons are smeared in the Elixir of Damnation; any opponent that takes an unsaved wound from Dechala's attacks but survives cannot attack her, whether by melee, shooting, or spellcasting. No duration is given, so presumably this lasts for the rest of the game! The Elixir has no effect on Daemons or the Undead, though.
- The Praise of Slaanesh: This dance inflicts a -1 to hit penalty on enemy attacks, both melee and shooting.
- Dance of Destruction: Dechala's attacks gain a +1 to hit bonus when she does this dance.
- Daggerdance: When she performs this dance, Dechala can negate standard attacks in hand-to-hand combat. Each enemy attack negated uses up 2 of Dechala's attacks, though. Declare at the round's start how many attacks you are giving up and which model you are using these attack nullifiers on.
6e Dechala is a special character who costs 245 points and uses up 2 Hero slots. Her stats are now Movement 7, Weapon Skill 8, Ballistic Skill 3, Strength 4, Toughness 4, Wounds 2, Initiative 9, Attacks 6 and Leadership 8. She wears Chaos Armor, bears the Mark of Slaanesh, and carries six swords. Her special rules are now Poisoned Attacks and Dances of Slaanesh - for some reason, she's lost Hatred (Khorne)! Dances of Slaanesh now has the limitation that you can't perform the same Dance in two consecutive rounds, and the Dances have changed, arguably for the better.
- The Praise of Slaanesh: Enemies must re-roll successful melee attacks against Dechala whilst she's performing this dance.
- Dance of Destruction: Dechala's attacks gain a +1 to hit bonus when she does this dance.
- Daggerdance: When she performs this dance, Dechala gains a 5+ Ward Save.
Gallery[edit]
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Dechala's model.
