WAR is full of tailor-made heroes and villains who are deft at what they do. There is, however, still room for some of the better known official characters from the armies that take part in this conflict. In this short article we will be taking a peek at some of these Noteworthy Persons of Warhammer. (You can view these individuals in the “Noteworthy Persons” tab in your Tome of Knowledge.)
Karl Franz
Under his reign, the Empire has survived several invasion attempts, during which he often fought in the battles himself, upon his Griffon, Deathclaw, and wielding the mighty hammer Ghal Maraz, that had been given to Sigmar himself by King Kurgan Ironbeard. He also wears an ancient relic that was forged by the wizard Frederick von Tarnus for Magnus the Pious just after the Great War against Chaos (2302 IC).
In the Age of Reckoning, Karl Franz tried, and failed, to quarantine the Chaos Plague. Even though the protests reached the very gates of the Imperial Palace, he did not forget his duty to the Dwarfs. When Grumlok and Gazbag’s great Waaagh! began, Karl Franz sent troops to help his allies.
Later, when Tchar’zanek’s shadow was complicating the already delicate situation in the Old World, he convened what would be known as the Council of Wisdom, which would create an alliance of Elves, Men, and Dwarfs, as well as the Order of the Griffon.
If you play as Order, you can find him in Emperor's Palace in north Altdorf, armed and ready for whatever the future may hold. If you play as Destruction, you will surely feel the weight of his legendary hammer one day.
Engra Deathsword
Engra Deathsword, Destroyer of Praag, was one of the champions of Absolute Chaos that, led by Asavar Kul, ravaged the imperial city during the Great War against Chaos (2302 IC).
In the Age of Reckoning, Engra has found his place in the twisted arena in The Inevitable City, watching from his privileged vantage point the massacre of those that seek the favor of the Dark Gods. Only he and Tchar’zanek know whose orders he follows, and nobody dares to ask any questions. The only thing that is certain is that he will never refuse a challenge.
If you play as Destruction, you can see him enjoying the gladiators fight for the favor of the evil Chaos gods in The Sacellum in The Inevitable City's west side. If you play as Order, and your bravery (or madness!) takes you to the gates of The Inevitable City, he will surely be waiting inside for you.
Gotrek Gurnisson and Felix Jaeger
Many stories can be told about this strange pair. Gotrek Gurnisson is over four hundred years old and is one of the most famous Slayers in the Old World. He has spent over one hundred and fifty years seeking his doom on the battlefield. He met Felix Jaeger through an incident in which the Dwarf saved the Human from being trampled by the hooves of a horse during the disturbances caused by the famous Window Tax. In the ensuing drunkenness Felix swore (and signed with blood) that he would accompany the Slayer in his travels and would tell the world his saga after his death.
It’s not easy to sum up their adventures since then, as they have traveled the lands of the Empire (as well as other faraway lands which most don’t even dare think about) east, west, north and south and have run into all manner of problems: Skaven, vampires, barbarian armies heading from Norska and greenskin Waaghs! from the southeast. Luckily (or unluckily), the Dwarf has yet to meet the honorable death in battle that would remove his shame.
In the Age of Reckoning these two heroes have returned to Altdorf to face the Chaos threat and, hopefully, so that Gotrek can find the death in battle that he has been seeking all these years. They have been seen several times hanging around inside the Screaming Cat tavern near the docks in the southeastern part of the capital city.
Malekith and Morathi
After his father’s death it was Bel-Shanaar, Prince of Tiranoc, who was elected Phoenix King. Malekith spent several decades as commander of Ulthuan’s forces plotting how to kill the king and take the throne. Some say he was aided by his mother. He managed to poison Bel-Shanaar, but when he entered the Flame of Asuryan to be crowned Phoenix King, he paid the price for his treachery.
The magical fire burned his body and twisted his flesh. Morathi herself dragged him from the temple. During his painful recovery, Malekith oversaw the forging of a powerful set of armor which he would later fuse to his own body. As soon as his wounds allowed him to do so, he mobilized his followers and revolted against the Phoenix King. This led to a bloody civil war and the flooding of Ulthuan.
Many people blame Morathi, whom Aenarion had rescued from a group of worshipers of Slaanesh. She continued to worship that deity behind her husband’s back and the Cult of Pleasure actively played a part in the events leading up to the civil war.
She is currently the second most powerful Elf in all of Naggaroth, second only to her son and lover Malekith, whom she taught all her dark magic secrets.
During the Age of Reckoning, Malekith used the Chaos invasion to prepare for his own attack on Ulthuan. He sent Lord Uthorin’s son, Kaloth Coldshadow, to speak with two greenskin tribal leaders, Grumlok and Gazbag, and to give them two powerful relics that would keep them under control. Shortly after that the alliance with Tchar’zanek was created.
You can find both of them in the game, in the Eternal Citadel. Morathi spends her time with the Warlord Tchar’zanek, for dubious reasons, while the Witch King is often found “discussing” the invasion plans with the greenskin leaders in the barracks of the chaotic building.
These are not the only noteworthy persons you can meet in WAR, far from it. Alarielle the Everqueen or the Grand Theogonist Volkmar, to name just two, can also be found in the game, and many more will be added in the future. Keep searching, as some may appear where you least expect them!
By Jon "Knox" Tamayo
Spanish WAR Community Manager
