The Warriors of Chaos, also known as the Hordes of Chaos, the Followers of Chaos, the forces of Chaos Undivided, the forces of Chaos, the Northern Barbarians or simply just the Northmen, are the names given to a race of savage, warlike tribes of Human barbarians that occupy the harsh and unforgiving lands of the uppermost north of the mortal world, known in the lands of the Old World as the dreaded Northern Wastes. It is there that the mortal plane mingles with the hellscape of the Realm of Chaos.^[1h][6b]

The northern barbarians are considered by the civilised peoples to be the enemies of all the Known World, whose unwavering worship of the uncaring and sadistic pantheon of the major Chaos Gods has given them a single, driving motive to usher in the inevitable downfall of all mortal-kind into their hellish enslavement and ultimate extinction. Out of all the many threats that the Old World must face, none strikes such fear and misery into the hearts of Men like the Followers of Chaos. Slaves to darkness all, they have given themselves wholly to the Ruinous Powers, some willingly, others because they felt they had no other choice.