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Naggaroth

Page history last edited by Hal! 13 years, 8 months ago

The New World


The northern New World, known as Naggaroth, has been dominated for millennia by the Dark Elves, but they are hardly the only residents of this continent, and there are certainly other realms that are worthy of note.


Maps

New World

Click the above map for access to a much higher-resolution image, with locational notes.

 


Realms

 

Kalterhafen

 

The Dragon Brethren
Dates  2518 IC - present
Principal Inhabitants  Mixed, but a Human majority
Flag / Arms  
Capital Kalterhafen
Language

Reikspiel (official)

Battle Tongue (official)

Religion No one state church. Only worship of the Ruinous Powers is banned. The Old World and Asur pantheons are both supported.
Government Stratocracy
Ruler Uhlrik Gunderit, Currently administered by Vanye Waverider.
History 2518 IC - Clar Karond razed, renamed Kalterhafen.
Currency Not established

The mighty Dark Elf city of Clar Karond once stood here, but it has been sacked and destroyed, its proud black towers tumbled to the earth. In Clar Karond untold slaves once labored upon the fleets of the Witch King, for here were his principle dockyards, where the raiding ships are built that harry the lands of the Ulthuan and beyond. The city was vast and sprawling, and all around it is surrounded by forests of towering pines, black trees that harbour few creatures and cloak the ground beneath so that all is darkness in the forests of shadows. Chained slave gangs worked the forests, cutting and dragging the massive timbers into the city of Clar Karond - the Tower of Doom as it was called by men. All of that ended in 2518 IC (XI: 354) when a powerful Asur force accompanied by the entire might of the Black Dragons stormed and demolished the city.

 

What of its populace was not destroyed has fled to other cities or to the surrounding countryside to lick its wounds - in this battle of annihilation, the High Elves would allow no prisoners to be taken. In the darksome city's place, the Dragon Brethren have hastily erected a fort and renamed the place Kalterhafen (meaning Chill Harbor). This fort is the first territory to be taken and held by the Dragon Brethren for their own dominion, and so it and its immediate environs are the germ of their future state.

 

Kalterhafen, though it is under the control of the Dragon Brethren, is surrounded on most sides by the territory of an implacable and ancient enemy. While the attack that led to the sack and razing of Clar Karond was hardly a suprise to the Dark Elf lords, they had anticipated merely a strong raid, a feint in preparation for a greater attack against Karond Kar rather than a determined attempt to actually take the city. This is the first time that Malekith's forces have ever actually lost a city within Naggaroth itself and the ancient, hidebound leaders of the Druchii appear to still be in a certain degree of outraged shock over the affair.

 

When Schloß Drache departed Kalterhafen to reinforce the Blighted Isle against Chaotic forces, a significant portion of their strength (including their entire navy) remained behind to hold this place. Most of the surviving former slaves of Clar Karond remained behind as well to establish a free home for themselves and joined the Black Dragons' forces. Vanye Waverider, as the Dragons' admiral, has been tasked with leading this combined effort of establishing a firm hold on this place and training the hordes of new recruits.

 

Word of the Black Dragons' drastic transformation has not yet reached Vanye or his highly diverse forces, and indeed what condition they will be found in is uncertain.

 

Naggaroth

 

Dates  -2723 IC to present (2519 IC)
Principal Inhabitants  Druchii
Flag / Arms  
Capital Naggarond
Language Druhir (known as Dhar-Elthàrin by the Asur)
Religion

Khaine (official)

The cult of Pleasure (Slaanesh - banned but prominent)

Government Despotism
Witch-King Malekith
History

-2751 IC: Malekith fails to become Phoenix King

-2723IC: The Sundering. Foundation of Naggaroth

-238 IC: Black Way discovered.

176 IC: Watchtowers built

1783 IC: Underworld route to Arnhelm discovered

2301 IC: Great Chaos Incursion. Battle of Finuval Plain

2423 IC: Eltharion raids Naggarond

2518 IC: Fall of Clar Karond

Currency  

Warhammer Wiki Page on Naggaroth (from which a fair amount of the text on this page is derived)

There are five (formerly six) major cities in Naggaroth which contain a significant portion of the Dark Elf population. These cities were built as multi-walled fortresses and almost all life in Naggaroth is centered around them. Naggarond, the capital, is one of the largest population centers in the Warhammer world. It is the seat of power for Malekith, the king of the Dark Elves, and his royal court.

 

  • Naggarond

Naggarond is the most evil city in the world and the most mighty of all the cities of Naggaroth. Its black stone walls rise a hundred feet from the ground and set within them are four vast gateways with doors of iron fifty feet high. Above the walls are set a hundred towers, which rise as high above the walls as the walls rise from the rock. From these towers fly the banners of the Witch-King. The severed heads of those sacrificed upon the altars of Khaine are displayed from the spikes upon the battlements, and the skins of those flayed alive in the god's honour hang from the walls. Within its walls the city rises higher and higher, and at its pinnacle stands the tower of the Witch King, the Dark Lord of Naggarond, Malekith, formerly heir to the Phoenix throne. From his tall tower the Witch King rules his domain with a will of iron. His tower rises high above the city and from it spring battlements and lesser towers, for it is a great and impregnable fortress in its own right.

It is said that the sorceries of the Witch King enable him to look out upon the whole world from his tower, to direct his withering gaze where so ever it pleases his malicious intent. If his eye should fall upon a man then the Witch King's evil gaze can cause his mind to break and the flesh to fall from his bones, for such is the Dark Lord's evil power. He watches his armies ride to war, and sees the dark-clad messengers scurry about his land. Far off he watches the land of Ulthuan behind its protective mists of magic, and he feels the keen hatred burning within his heart.

The city is shrouded in a perpetual pall of sacrificial smoke that rises from the burning altars of Khaine, the God of Murder. Upon these altars the Hag Queens tear Men and Elves apart. They pluck beating hearts from living bodies and pull entrails from bellies and burn them in the sacrificial flame of the God of murder. In the temples of Khaine blood flows night and day, and more honour Khaine with their deaths than anywhere else except perhaps the city of Har Ganeth itself, where even the pavement is stained with blood.

 

  • Ghrond

Ghrond, the North Tower, stands upon the very borders of the Witch King's realm. To the north, only a thin line of watchtowers guard against incursions by the forces of Chaos. To the east loom the Spiteful Peaks, perhaps the most inhospitable mountain range in the known world, infested by fearsome manticores, tribes of savage orcs and warped beastmen, and even worse dangers. West is the desolate wasteland known as the Black Plain, where sleeps the ageless evil of the Altar of Ultimate Darkness. Only to the south is there any safety, for that way runs the Witch King's highway, paved with the skulls of his foes, leading to the gates of his own city of Naggarond.

 

Ghrond lies in the bitterly cold north of the Witch King's domain. In shape it is like the great city of Naggarond, yet in size it is far smaller, a fortress to be garrisoned rather than a place in which to dwell. Its single massive tower, grim, black, and slender like a spear, rises from its mountain spur.

From this tower sorceresses watch over the ever shifting Realm of Chaos, place of gods and source of all magical power for good and ill alike. Within the Realm of Chaos the lands seethe with energy, rising like the sea, whilst the air is bathed in competing colours of sorcery, turning and twisting, howling and crying like the wind. The sorceresses observe the changes in the Realm of Chaos, for it is said that the patterns of change hold the secrets to the future, and that all secrets are contained therein for those who dare to look.

Every day dark clad riders gallop away from the tower of Ghrond bearing the reports of its guardians to Naggarond. These foretell of things to come, of auspicious moments when the Witch King's armies may meet with success, or of the growing power of his enemies. From these observations the Witch King plots his strategies and launches his armies upon the World.

Ghrond serves as a bastion against the hordes of Chaos. It has a large garrison, quite capable of putting down small to major invasions from the Wastes.

 

  • Karond Kar

The Druchii city of Karond Kar in the tongue of men is called the City of Despair. It is to this terrible place that thousands of slaves are brought; men from the Old World; Elves from Ulthuan, and more from across the world, all destined to serve the Witch King. The wailing spirits of dead slaves are said to haunt the whole city. The Dark Elves love to hear this sound of dread and despair. It fills their dreams with delicious images of suffering and pain.

Many slaves die upon the altars of Khaine, their hearts torn from their bodies, whilst others are sent north and south to labour in the mines and quarries of the Witch King.

Thousands die as they cross the seas to Karond Kar, stifled and suffocated in the holds of the slave ships, or tortured to death for the entertainment of the black hearted crew. From the docks the slaves are driven in chains amidst the jeering crowds. As the slave masters beat them forward many stumble on the steep rock and are trampled to death by the chained feet of those who follow. At this sight the crowds laugh all the louder and cry with pleasure, for such is their love of cruelty that this sorry spectacle is rated a great entertainment.

The Beastmasters hail from Karond Kar and the mighty hydras and manticores follow. When a druchii child shows aptitude for taming beasts he is sent to the Tower of Despair to study under the masters that dwell there. It is also here that the monstrous Cold Ones are broken for service, so the Dark Elves can ride them to war.

 

  • Hag Graef

Hag Graef is named the Dark Crag, and of all the cities of the Dark Elves it is feared the most, for no captive man or Elf has ever escaped from this place. It lies at the bottom of a cold, dark valley and is completely surrounded by mountains of bare black rock, higher than the highest walls. No sunlight reaches the city of Hag Graef and it is shrouded in gloom and shadow.

The city was built by druchii generals who had been defeated in battle by the High Elves: fearful of Malekith's wrath, they built the city as an easy way to defend themselves from any punitive attack Malekith might send against them. However, the Witch King, under the direction of Morathi, used politics, instead of warfare, to claim lordship of Hag Graef.

All about the city lie many mines and quarries from where the Witch King takes iron and stone to arm his warriors and build his fortresses. Thousands of slaves labour in his service. Chained together they scrape and hack at the rock, often deep underground in narrow tunnels and dark passages. The chill winds bite deep and there is little to eat but scraps of foul dark bread, for the Dark Elves enjoy to see their slaves cold and starving, and beat them all the harder when they fall faint with hunger.

All the black mountains about Hag Graef are riddled with tunnels and excavations, and it is during their excavations for rock and ore that the Dark Elves discovered the great subterranean lake they call the Underworld Sea. Beneath Hag Graef the mountains rise and buckle, so that as the peaks rise into the air a gigantic cavern lies beneath the earth. This Underworld Sea was first discovered by the Dark Lord of Hag Graef, Kaledor Maglan. So great is its extent that the dark Elves have sailed upon this sea and explored its countless caves and branches, though doubtless the Underworld still holds many secrets.

In the deepest caverns of this Underworld the Dark Elves discovered strange reptilian creatures which they called Cold Ones. The stables of Hag Graef are full of these monstrous beasts, and many Dark Elves descend into the depths to hunt them.

 

  • Har Ganeth

The very name of Har Ganeth is cursed with evil. In Ulthuan none will even speak of the city which they call only the cursed place, whilst to the Dark Elves it is the city of the executioners. The great Temple of Khaine here is the largest in the whole of Naggaroth, for this city is the spiritual capitol of the Cult of Khaine. As well as the main temple building itself, a full third of the citadel is under the direct control of the hags. Barracks, assembly fields, and training rooms enough for a sizeable military force can be found there as well as the more usual reliquaries, meditation chambers, and holding pens for sacrificial victims. Witch elves and assassins, dozens of smaller yet no less martial cults devoted to Khaine's many aspects are also barracked within the temple grounds.

 

Rulership of the citadel was long ago granted to the noble House of Rakanthis, but the true power has always lain with Crone Hellebron. Since the mysterious death of the last city lord, she has ruled har Ganeth alone. Even when the crone resides in Naggarond at the court of Malekith, the city is left under the command of the hags rather than in the hands of the nobility. All important posts in the Har Ganeth city legion, the city's own military force (as opposed to the smaller forces maintained by the noble houses), are filled by Hellebron's appointees.

 

  • The Watch Towers

Across the Northlands of Naggaroth the Witch King has raised many watch towers upon the borders of the Realm of Chaos. Though mighty he is ever fearful of treachery, for betrayal and treachery lay heavily on his mind, for such is his nature that he supposes others to be as greedy for power as himself. He sees enemies to the south in Ulthuan, to the east he spies the men of the Old World whose power grows by the day, further still are the Dwarfs - enemies of old who plot with men to overthrow him.

Yet the greatest enemy of all, but lies to the north, in the realm of Chaos. Here the Chaos gods watch and listen, gathering their armies for the time when chaos shall inherit the whole world. The Witch King watches also. His towers guard against the warbands that would harry his lands. His armies wait for the invasion of the gods, safe behind their stone walls in the bitter cold of the north

 

  • Hotek's Column

Here are the ruins of the dwelling, playground and workshop of the insane heretic priest and master artificer, Hotek. The column has been broken down, but even its ruins maintain a geometry that has only the most tangential relationship with the physical world of men and elves.

 

  • Vaul's Anvil

A once-great shrine, the center of the Dark Elves' corrupted version of the worship of Vaul. The Black Dragons have desecrated the place and massacred its priests, but old wounds often fester.

 

 

 

Arnhelm

Arnhelm
Dates  
Principal Inhabitants Asur
Flag / Arms  
Capital Arnhelm City
Language Tar-Elthàrin
Religion  Asur pantheon. Isha is the patron goddess of the city itself.
Government Colony
Viceroy Arthaniel
History  
Currency  Sovereign

The Asur colony of Arnhelm, known to Imperial cartographers as "Arnheim" has been in High Elf hands since before recorded human history. Its capital shares the name of the whole colony, and is the only large city in the realm though there are a number of smaller cities along the coast...

  • Shining Hill - This is the district of the city of Arnhelm where Rainbow Hall (the chancellor's palace) and much of the administration are.

 

Chaos Wasteland

The Shadowlands, the Umbra Chaotica or whatever name one prefers for it simply fail to do this place justice. It is a vast swathe of literal Hell on earth, where reality can melt and run like wax and Daemons can roam freely...


Peoples

 

Druchii

The Dark Elves of Naggaroth refer to themselves as the Druchii. Their society is quite often harsh and brutal, as one would expect from a people driven by the reverence of Khaela Mensha Khaine (The Bloody Handed God) and in no small part to the worship of the Chaos Gods, especially Slaanesh (a driving force behind the still thriving Cult of Pleasure within Naggaroth.) Most Druchii worship both Khaine and Slaanesh in the same way that Old Worlders will revere many gods according to their desires.

 

From an early age Dark Elf children are taught that upon their death they will join Khaela Mensha Khaine in his kingdom and that His way is the way of all things; all blood belongs to the Lord of Murder and the more blood is spilt the greater their rewards will be when they die and their souls depart for the kingdom of Khaine. This is the main reason in which many thousands of captives are ritually sacrificed upon the alters of Khaine throughout the year, each one is an offering to the Bloody-Handed God.

 

The five cities of Naggaroth are dominated by noble families, much like the kingdoms of men are. In fact the only differences between mannish civilisations and that of Naggaroth is that the Druchii rely almost entirely on slave labour and openly worship the Dark Gods and actively promote debauchery in whatever shape or form. Slaves are bought from the slavers of Karond Kar by wealthy families so that they maybe used for such purposes. Dark Elf corsairs have restricted the areas in which they raid for slaves over the past centuries mostly due to the continued ascendancy of the human race, which the Dark Elves are loath to admit. The most popular places are the more fragmented regions of the Old World, such as Estalia and Tilea, and places closer to home such as the New World and coastal regions of Ulthuan.

 

Dark Elf Marriage

Love as we understand it does not exist in the experience of the Dark Elves. Druchii do practice marriage, but it exists as a political and dynastic tool only. Clearly there are bonds between certain Druchii that go beyond simple duty or fear, but one must remember that the Dark Elves have become so pernicious and self-centred that no Dark Elf is going to trust another Dark Elf in the way that we would equate to a conventional marriage. Mutual self-interest may breed a certain degree of loyalty and respect over centuries, and there is some small measure of familial affection between parents and children, but if it ever comes down to the final crunch, every Dark Elf is out for himself or herself and ‘loved ones’ are as quickly sacrificed as complete strangers in the interest of survival or power.

 

Dark Elf Language

The language spoken by Dark Elves is Druhir. When the exiles first came to Naggaroth in ancient times they spoke the High Elven tongue (Tar-Elthárin). Now the language has degenerated slightly, although Druchii still shares many similarities with Tar-Elthárin, so that it sounds like the words are forced out and it lacks the pattern and fluency. However, most Dark Elves can speak the classical Tar-Elthárin language, such was spoken in Nagarythe of old, and it is normally used for formal occasions.

 

Weaponry

Dark Elves of noble birth are permitted to wear two swords at the waist, a testament to their higher status. Moreover they never dress themselves. This is the task of two squires who ritually attire the noble in his armour. The noble's chest is anointed with the symbol of Khaine in purified blood. Then a long flowing robe, called a khaiton, made from rich silk patterned with spells and charms, is put on next. This is a symbol of war and martial prowess which the noble also wears out of armour too. Over the tunic is worn a padded aketon with mail sleeves and long mail skirt, called a dalakoi (strength against death), and to keep the mail in place it is lined with a soft leather made from human or doeskin.

Next, a back and breastplate is worn to protect the torso. Especially wealthy or influential nobles will have this armour forged from galvorn metal. A short gorget is also added to give extra protection for the upper torso. Wealthy nobles will wear a pair of pauldrons (shoulder guards) although this tends to be more for aesthetic purposes rather than affording great protection. However, some nobles hold great stall for their pauldrons and wear pieces of amazing design and beauty. The pauldrons are laced directly to the breastplate through the gorget. Sometimes they are one piece but are typically two or three connected plates. The laces are left visible at the front and are decorated with flesh hooks at the ends.

Laced to the forearm are long gloves with armoured hands. Vambraces, typically with war spines (a skilful warrior can use them for trapping and breaking weapons), are then fitted to the arms. Nobles often wear a helmet of composite parts: an open-faced tall helm, a visor and bevor. The visor is laced onto rings on the helmet and the bevor is laced directly to the breastplate and offers a very good protection for the vulnerable neck area.

Daggers and swords are slung on narrow crossbelts. The status of a warrior at the court of the Witch King is dependent on how many weapons he wears, but two blades are most common, which is a symbol of nobility. Shields are typically curved at the base allowing them to be used as offensive weapons. Fluttering from a lance tip a cavalryman carries are usually long ribbons or pennants. Runic script, in varying languages from Druchii and Tar-Elthárin to Arcane Elf and Dark Tongue, is embroidered on the pennants, proclaiming a knight's dedication to the Witch King and his deeds and the history of his family for all to see. Other notable weapons include the draich (great sword or two-handed blade), uraithen (repeating crossbow), and drannach (heavy spear).

Flesh hooks, shaped in Druchii runes, are hung from a Dark Elf to proclaim his allegiances, battle honours and family. Along with flesh hooks are also hung keikalla (spirit bells), which serve to ward off, it is claimed, the malevolent spirits that haunt the barren areas of Naggaroth, and to proudly announce their presence.

 

A note on ceremonial weapons

Dark Elves enjoy duelling and ritual combat and with this come many weapons. Often it is the case that duelling weapons used to be used by the ancient Naggarothi but have since outlived their purpose so that few exist or are only forged for the purpose of duelling. Two such weapons are the ghlaith (spineblade) and the lakelui (soultaker). Both weapons were forged during the height of the Cult of Pleasure some five millennia ago. The Elves then, made many weapons designed for ritual combat to impress onlookers with their skill at wielding them. They were also used for warfare in those days too (only traditionalists use them these days). The ghlaith is a sickle-shaped weapon used to deliver a paralysing blow to the lower back or limbs. The lakelui is a much longer weapon, and was used to dispatch an opponent once they have been immobilised. As it was in the past, if an opponent wasn't immobilised before the killing blow was dealt the knight would be met with howls of derision, which often led to the execution of the knight himself.

 

Magic

“A Sorcereress must walk the dark paths of the Realm of Chaos, the deep pits of the oceans and the bowls of the fiery mountains in her quest for knowledge. The channeling of the raw Winds of Chaos is what gives the Sorceress her power. The Creatures of the Chaos Hells will bow to her will in the end. Such Power is vast but dangerous and the aspirant to the Dark Convent of Sorceresses must be courageous and strong .”
- From the sixth book of secrets by Kaladhtoir of Clar Karond

In times of war the Witch King calls upon his Convents of Sorceresses to rain death and destruction down upon the target of his ire. Their magical prowess will blight the warriors of the opposing army, scorch their souls from their bodies and bring ruination and curses aplenty upon their heads. Like their High Elf kin, the Dark Elves are innately magical creatures. However, Dark Elf magic users do not commune with the magical energies of the Winds of Chaos and attempt to use them in harmony; instead they use sheer force of will to bend the Winds to their dark intentions. This form of magic is known as Dhar, or Dark Magic. Dark Magic spells are incredibly destructive and capable of shattering almost any defense. However, this power does not come without a price. If the Sorceress’s will falters even a little, the unstable power of Dark Magic will turn back upon the caster with a powerful backlash.

 

Most Dark Elf magicians are sorceresses, since sorcerers have at times been persecuted or executed out of the Witch-King's paranoia. At present, sorcerers are tolerated so long as they make themselves useful though things tend to rapidly turn sour for them if they should slip up or make the wrong enemies.

 

Festivals

Some of the festivals which the Druchii enjoy are detailed below.

The Harvest of Souls: One of the most popular times of year is the Harvest of Souls. Each noble family must try to outdo each other in the number of slaves they sacrifice to Khaine (a Dark Elf family may own from one hundred to as many as a thousand slaves.) The more slaves a family sacrifices the less chance that they will feel the knife of the Witch Elves' blade on Death Night (see below.) Once the slaves have been sacrificed, excited Dark Elf children wait at the doors of the Temple of Khaine for the priestess to hand them the severed heads of those sacrificed. The children would then race each other to the spikes that dot the city walls where they would plant their gruesome trophies. Inside the temple the victims are disembowelled and their entrails and hearts placed on sacrificial pyres. The Witch Elves then remove the skin of the victims and sow it together to make one large sheet. A family's status could then be measured by the size of these macabre decorations as they are draped along the city walls.

 

Death Night: One of the nights when the Witch Elves (Druchii: Tulluch) are unleashed upon the citizens of the cities of Naggaroth. Be they a highborn noble or a child, no one is safe on the streets when it is Death Night because on this night everyone is equal just as death can come to anyone be he noble or beggar. When Death Night comes all the citizens of a city bar themselves in their homes for ten nights (the duration of Death Night). However, the Witch Elves do break into the houses and drag away their victims to the temple of Khaine where they are ritually sacrificed to the Bloody-Handed God. Newborn babies, however, are offered to the Lord of Murder in the Cauldron of Blood. Most perish this ordeal but those who survive are taken by the temples where they are inducted as assassins. The morning after Death Night, the survivors celebrate their escape by sacrificing one of their own household to Khaine - usually a slave or an elderly relative - as thanks for sparing their lives and those of their children.

 

Hunting: This isn't so much a festival but a regular pastime for most Druchii families. All families have slaves, the more a family has the greater their status, and from time to time they will release one or two into the wilds of Naggaroth and hunt them for sport. The Dark Elf huntsmen usually ride on horses and use strange mutated beasts to track and find their quarry for them, so that it is virtually impossible for any slave to stay free for long and even then the freezing temperatures at nighttime is enough to kill anyone as well as the mysterious Shades who lurk in the mountain passes. Dark Elf children, or those approaching adulthood, accompany the hunts, eager to prove themselves, and once a slave is found their fathers blood them as a sign of their maturity and bravery. But the Druchii don't only hunt slaves, they also hunt the beasts of the forests and mountains. Being so close to the Realm of Chaos means that there are many warped and, frequently, dangerous monstrosities lurking in the wilderness for the Dark Elves to either capture or slay for sport. The bones of particularly mighty beasts are used to decorate Dark Elf houses and are even used as eating tools.

 

Autarii

The independent, wilderness-dwelling Autarii are clans of Dark Elves that reside in the woods, mountains and wildernesses of Naggaroth rather than huddling in massive fortified cities or plantations. Better known as Shades, these nomad cut-throats take mercenary employment from highborn Druchii, but do not consider themselves direct subjects of the lords of Naggaroth.

 

Slaves

For many centuries, the Dark Elves have relied upon slavery and plunder as the primary driving forces of their economy. They have roved the world over in search of victims and treasure, and accordingly the slave-pens, cities and fields of the Druchii are filled with living beings from across the globe. Asur are their most prized victims, but hardly the most numerous. The greatest proportion of the Dark Elves’ slaves is drawn instead from the teeming ranks of Humanity. Old Worlders are chained next to Hung and Ikadians (New Worlders), and men from Cathay and Nippon must labor alongside Arabs. Most common are representatives from those lands closest to Naggaroth: the tribes of the Northern Wastes, the New World and the peoples of the Old World. With the discovery of the connections between the Underworld Sea and the west a few centuries ago, an ever-greater influx of slaves from Nippon and Cathay has begun to alter the mix. Naturally, many lifelong slaves are of mixed ancestry. There are also representatives of nearly all of the world’s major nonhuman races, especially Goblins.

 

This sorry mass of slavery must live, work and die at the pleasure of its masters, and families and social groups are often divided merely out of spite. Though many of the slaves keep to their own ethnic and linguistic group as much as possible, they frequently have little choice in the matter. Accordingly, the slaves of the Dark Elves have developed a wide range of pidgin and creole languages to allow them to communicate amongst themselves. Most of these are built with Druhir (the language of the Druchii) as their superstrate, since that is the one tongue that most slaves at least share a rudimentary knowledge of. Substrates for these mixed tongues are of course the dominant tongues of the lands from which most of a given area’s slave population is drawn.

 

Larger populations of slaves such as the huge workforce kept at the logging fields of Clar Karond tend to develop reasonably stable creoles among their principal groups, reinforced when new slaves are born and raised with these as their first languages. The Druchii derisively refer to these mixed languages collectively as Fechàrin, “slave-talk,” and take their existence as evidence that their slaves are inferior by virtue of their failure to completely adopt Druhir, never mind that few Dark Elves would bother to provide proper tuition to a slave. Slaves with a reasonable grasp of one of these tongues, however, should be able to communicate on at least a rudimentary level with any other group of longtime slaves that they should be shuffled into, and to pick up the local dialect before long.

 

Hung

 While the Kurgan are the Chaos Marauders best known to Old Worlders, it is the Hung that throw themselves violently from the North against not only Cathay but Naggaroth. Where the Kurgan are tall and dark, the Hung are short, squat and wide-faced. They live in the saddles of their tough, sturdy ponies. The Hung are constantly in a state of war, whether among themselves, against the Kurgan, against Beastmen, in raids against Greenskins or the peoples to the South of their homelands. The hung are known as a savage, sly and cunning people with a taste for treachery.

 

Ikadians

 The copper-skinned humans of the New World...

 

Asur

 The High Elves have a strong presence in the New World, specifically in its southern regions around their fortress-city of Arnhelm. They claim the lands south of the Doom Glades, though they do share them with the Ikadian tribes...

 

Greenskins

The degenerate Goblinoid races exist pretty much everywhere in the Warhammer World, and the New World is certainly no exception. In Naggaroth, there are many Goblin slaves toiling under Dark Elf whips. To the West the Black Spine mountains are stiff with all varieties of Greenskins, which pour down from time to time to war against the Elves. Tribes of greenskins rage against the Hung to the North and infest the Petrified Forest to the South.

 

Beastmen

The Beastmen are found in considerable numbers throughout the northern parts of the world, and Naggaroth is no exception. One interesting quirk of the area is that, liker other parts of the world, the beastmen of these lands reflect the nightmares and imagination of the sentient peoples of the region to a certain degree. While Gors and Bray are in evidence, there is also a sizable population of beastmen that are at least partially reptilian in appearance, and in some cases can even be mistaken for Lizardmen on casual observation...


Links

Druchii.net is the home of a considerable amount of Dark Elf resources.

The Critical Hit article on Dark Elves - I believe that most of this text is actually from WH publications.

Warhammer Wiki entry on Dark Elves.

Wikipedia Dark Elves entry.

 

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