Archived: Hyster

Hyster, also known as the Mad God, the Lord of Confusion and the Deranged One, is the Chaos God of Madness, Confusion and Insecurity. Considered one of the minor Chaos Gods, unworthy of note, some form of clinical madness or confusion is common among those who follow him. It is unknown when Hyster first came to full sentience within the Immaterium, but he is believed to be older, although considerably weaker, than the Dark Prince, placing his appearance prior to the 30th Millennium. Hyster is generally referred to by male pronouns; true to his character, however, the actual gender of the Mad God is ultimately a source of confusion. Its sacred number is thirteen and the colours associated with Hyster are "clinical whites" and "mad greens".

Long estranged from the other minor and major Chaos Gods due to his eccentricity, his rival god constantly shifts between each, and none, of them. As Lord of Confusion, Hyster acts as the Dark God dedicated to the insanity and unexplained action, as well as confusion and the experience of being lost. It is of no surprise that Hyster's state within the Warp is one of constant confusion and loss. Although he does thrive there, the scope of Hyster's power extends far beyond planet-spanning insane asylums, the Imperium's over-eccentric scientists and over-zealous psychologists. His presence can be found when an army becomes surrounded and confused, when a plan is suddenly and inexplicably uprooted and it's parts fall out of place, and when a stranger becomes lost in the woods. He feasts on madness, but too on confusion, and further still on the insecurity and anxiety present in every being with soul and conscience.