View source for Bonesplitterz

{{InfoFactions
|Image               = Bonesplitterz 02.jpeg
|Image caption       = 
|Name                = Bonesplitterz
|Grand alliance      = [[Destruction]]
|Associated factions = [[Orruk Warclans]]
|Main grouping       = [[Warclan]]
|Major characters    = [[Gurkak Weirdteef]] <br> [[Chagga Weird-Eye]]
|Allies              =
|Core resources      =
|Races               = [[Orruk]]
|Mounts              = [[War Boar]]
|Vehicles            = 
|Creatures           = [[Rogue Idol]]
|Spell lores         = [[Lore of the Savage Beast]]<br>[[Lore of the Savage Waaagh!]]
|Prayers             =
|Endless spells      =
|Manifestations      =
|Artefacts           =
|Scenery             =
|Archetypes          =
|Warbands            = [[Hedkrakka's Madmob]]
}}

'''Bonesplitterz''' wild bands of [[Orruk]]s driven mad by the thrumming power of [[Gorkamorka]]. Guided by mysterious shamans that they believe speak directly to Gorkamorka, Bonesplitterz hunt the great beasts of the [[Mortal Realms]] in order to slay them and absorb the spiritual might bound within the creatures bones. These savage orruks are unpredictable and difficult to best in combat, not only because of their seeming lack of organisation and tactics but also due to their toughness and sheer single-mindedness. The orruks of these wild bands are possessed by the power of the [[Waaagh!]], unable to fully revert to what is considered normal.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}  

==Religion==
The Bonesplitterz worship [[Gorkamorka]] as the lord of those creatures in the [[Mortal Realms]] that swim, crawl, or fly; to them he is a primal lord of the hunt who blesses his followers with savage madness. They believe that all creatures contain a portion of the Great Green God's essence, and by killing them and taking their bones, they can make some part of this power their own. The most violent and ill-tempered creatures contain the greatest amount of Gorkamorka's essence, and so the Bonesplitterz pursue these monsters across the realms in the hopes of taking their power.{{Fn|5b}} 

The mysterious energy known as the [[Waaagh!]] is important to all [[orruks]], but none revere it more than the Bonesplitterz. Other orruks get swept up by its power when they gather in great numbers or are in a proper fight, but the Bonesplitterz experience the maddening pounding sensation in their heads at all times. Their spiritual leaders - the [[Wurrgog Prophet]]s - say that the Waagh! is a roiling mass of beast souls that can be captured and contained in totems and tattoos, and the efforts of each Bonesplitterz warclan is directed to worshiping and directing this energy.{{Fn|3a}} When the power of the [[Waaagh!]] begins to affect other creatures due to large numbers of Bonesplitterz on the hunt, turning them aggressive and irrational, the Bonesplitterz believe that this is due to [[Gorkamorka]] stamping his feet to flush their prey out of hiding.{{Fn|3j}}

Every Bonesplitterz weapon and icon is considered an artefact, as it is made of the bones of a defeated beast and still contains some of their spirit; for example, a bow with boar bones tied to it means its arrows will be better at sniffing out targets and a totem with many skulls is able to see and extend its protection in all directions. Even stone weapons have spirits in them - to the Bonesplitterz, these are bones of the mountains or perhaps the realm itself.{{Fn|3g}}

The prophetic visions of the [[Wurrgog Prophets]] play a major role in Bonesplitter life. It is through these visions, they believe, that [[Gorkamorka]] makes his will known and shows his followers where the best hunting and fighting are. To those with less of a connection to the [[Waaagh!]], these portents are nonsense - a cloud that looks like a boar if you squint, a vaguely hand-shaped blood spatter, an odd feeling in the prophet's bones (either the ones they took from a beast or the ones in their own skeleton). However, the Bonesplitterz trust these revelations utterly, and the Wurrgogs are right often enough that many other [[orruks]] do, too.{{Fn|3p}}{{Fn|5c}}

===World Spirits===
[[File:Bonesplitterz 03.jpeg|thumb|500px|Bonesplitterz hunting a large beast.]]

The Bonesplitterz believe that each of the [[Mortal Realms]] has their own soul, not unlike those of the great beasts they hunt - and like the beasts they hunt, this spirit can be captured in a sufficiently impressive bone. No two shamans agree on the exact nature of these '''World Spirits''', and there are many varying interpretations of what each Realm's World Spirit is, but all of the Bonesplitterz believe that [[Realm of Ghur|Ghur]]'s is the greatest of all since, according to the [[Wurrgog Prophets]], [[Gorkamorka]] created Ghur and the realm took some portion of his power as its soul. Whatever the truth may be, many [[warclans]] incorporate the World Spirit of their home realm into their totemic religions.{{Fn|3k}}{{Fn|5c}}

Some believe that the Ghurish World Spirit is a land, while others say it is a creature imbued with [[Waaagh!]] energy. Some believe that [[Ravenak]], the Mouth That Lurks Beneath the World, is this spirit, but others claim it is a star scraping mountain of amber, and still others say it is the angry skies of Ghur itself.{{Fn|5c}}

Some examples of what various warclans believe are World Spirits:
*The [[Krakkskulls]] of [[Realm of Aqshy|Aqshy]] believe that [[Rakka Nak]], a [[lava trillipede]], is the World Spirit of Aqshy.{{Fn|5c}}
*The [[Flintjaws]], an ocean-dwelling Warclan, venerate the two-headed shark [[Skwidmuncha]] as a World Spirit.{{Fn|5c}}
*The [[Splinterfoot]] warclan of the [[Jade Kingdoms]] pursue [[Big Leef]], a great tree-beast imbued with [[Gorkamorka]]'s raging essence, which they believe is [[Realm of Ghyran|Ghyran]]'s World Spirit.{{Fn|5c}}

If any of the Bonesplitterz Warclans catch one of these World Spirits, they would immediately attempt to beat the creature to death and crack open its bones to take the [[Waaagh!]] magic from them, they would then turn this newfound energy against all eight of the Mortal Realms.{{Fn|5c}}

==Culture==
===Tattoos and Warpaint===
Bonesplitterz scorn mundane armour, preferring instead to put their faith in paints, tattooing, and scarification to bring the beast-souls and [[Waaagh!]] energy into their body for protection. Their belief in the protective power of these seemingly fragile wards is such that they can shrug off even brutal wounds - if not permanently, at least long enough to finish off whoever wounded them. In battle, the tattoos and warpaint seem to come alive, thrashing and writhing about, which the Bonesplitterz see as proof of [[Gorkamorka]]'s might working through them.{{Fn|3l}}{{Fn|5b}}{{Fn|6a}}

The style of warpaint and tattooing can vary between [[warclan]] to warclan and even rukk to rukk. Common themes include past kills, desired future kills, and things the [[orruk]] thought looked cool. [[Morboys]] often get a tattoo of the beast whose spirit they believe is possessing them in order to help better control its influence, while others might get a particular glyph to hopefully impart its power. Sometimes they even tattoo their [[war boars]] to help protect or empower the beasts (not that the boars appreciate it), with the ''fangit'' glyph, symbolizing speed, being especially popular.{{Fn|3i}}{{Fn|3m}}{{Fn|6b}}

Paint and tattoos can be applied using almost any pigments, though they are most commonly made with bits from recent kills. Every [[Wurrgog]] has his own recipe incorporating such items as bone dust, crushed beetles, [[Squiggly Beast|squiggly beast]] parts, and any squishy or liquidy bits that they like the look or smell of.{{Fn|5b}}{{Fn|5c}}{{Fn|6c}} Some Wurrgogs prefer particular colours, such as [[Gurkak Weirdteef]] of the [[Bonegrinz]], who paints his boyz blue since he believes that the colour attracts the strongest beast spirits.{{Fn|3i}}

===Rukks===
When large groups of Bonesplitterz gather in one place, the [[Wurrgog Prophets]] divide them into mobs and '''Rukks''' based on what aspect of [[Gorkamorka]] they best represent. The various rukks are described by analogy with parts of a great beast's skull.{{Fn|3f}}
*'''Kop Rukks''' are made up of the the [[Wardokk]]s and the [[Savage Orruk Morboy|Morboys]]. These [[orruks]], who best channel the spirit of [[Gorkamorka]], form the thick skull around the [[Wurrgog Prophet]], who is the brain of the [[warclan]].{{Fn|3f}}
*'''Snaga Rukks''' are led by [[Maniak Weirdnob]]s and are made up of [[Savage Boarboy Maniak]]s. These fast-moving rukks are the horns of the [[warclan]], plunging deep into the enemy's most vulnerable areas.{{Fn|3f}}
*'''Teef Rukks''' are made up of [[orruks]] carrying the massive spears known as [[Gork's Teeth]]. These [[Savage Big Stabba]]s are the teeth of the [[warclan]], ripping great chunks out of the enemy.{{Fn|3f}}
*'''Gob Rukks''' form the majority of the [[warclan]], and are further divided into the '''Brutal Rukks''' led by the warclan's [[Gorkaboss]] and specializing in smashing the enemy in close combat and the '''Kunnin' Rukks''' led by the warclan's [[Morkabos]]s and specializing in more cunning tactics such as shooting the enemy full of arrows before smashing the enemy in close combat. They are the jaws of the warclan.{{Fn|3f}}

===Festivals===
* [[Rukkin' Beast]]: During the ''beast-eye eclipse'', when [[Realm of Ghur|Ghur]]'s moons align, Bonesplitterz get together to perform this dance.{{Fn|6a}}

===Languages===
The [[Savage Tongues of the Bonesplitterz]] are a collection of languages and systems of writing used by the Bonesplitterz.{{Fn|3h}} The glyphs used to write the language are often painted or tattooed on the [[orruks]] or their mounts in order to gain their powers.{{Fn|3i}}

==Recruitment==
No [[orruk]] is born a Bonesplitter, and no one can agree on what makes an orruk become a Bonesplitter. The most common trigger seems to be getting caught up in a [[Waaagh!]] and then just not coming down when it's over. Others might survive a serious wound or dangerous infection, or nearly choke to death on a particularly tough bit of meat. Whatever causes it, the orruk is profoundly changed, hearing the pounding of [[Gorkamorka]] in a way that his mates cannot understand. He develops strange, often violent habits, and eventually either wanders off into the wilderness or is violently ejected from the [[warclan]] when his oddness becomes too much for the other orruks to bear.{{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|5c}}

These wanderers trek across the wilderness, following signs only they can see, until by chance or the will of [[Gorkamorka]] they find their way to a Bonesplitterz [[warclan]]. There, he joins up with his new fellows and receives his first proper set of tattoos, fully becoming a Bonesplitter.{{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|5c}}{{Fn|6c}}

While most [[orruks]] are content to leave becoming a Bonesplitter to the will of [[Gorkamorka]], there are some who attempt to help the process along for one reason or another. They try to force the spirit to come into them, doing whatever reckless and dangerous thing they hear might trigger the transformation. However, Gorkamorka is not about to be pushed around, no matter how much the aspirants shout at the sky or pester [[weirdnobs]] to headbutt them to drive the [[Waaagh!]] into their skulls, and these efforts inevitably fail.{{Fn|3l}}

==Relationships==
Other [[Orruks]] regard them with a certain degree of caution because they have fully embraced [[Gorkamorka]]'s feral spirit.{{Fn|4}} This connection, however, also makes them somewhat revered by outsiders; being so close to Gorkamorka surely means that he's told the Bonesplitterz where the best fights are.{{Fn|3o}} No boss would turn up his nose at the advice of a [[Wurrgog Prophet]], in whose madness the orruks see the influence of their god.{{Fn|3p}} In many [[Great Waaagh!]]s, the presence of the Bonesplitterz have held disparate factions together for far longer than one might expect for the simple reason that their continued presence shows Gorkamorka's favour.{{Fn|6a}}

==Major Warclans==
* [[Bonegrinz|Bonegrinz Warclan]]: Savage beast hunters without peer and nomads that wander across the [[Mortal Realms]].{{Fn|3b}}
* [[Drakkfoot|Drakkfoot Warclan]]: Originating from the [[Gorelakes]] of the [[Ashlands (Sub-Realm)|Ashlands]] of [[Realm of Aqshy|Aqshy]], the Drakkfoot Orruks see themselves as crusaders of the Great Green God with the holy task of exterminating Daemons and Gheists.{{Fn|3b}}{{Fn|5a}}
* [[Icebone|Icebone Warclan]]: Orruks that hunt the prey of the [[Skyblind Tundras]] of [[Realm of Ghur|Ghur]], wielding sorcerous weapons made from shards of spirit-glaciers.{{Fn|3b}}

==Sources==
* {{Endn|1}}: [https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Battletome-Bonesplitterz-ENG Battletome: Bonesplitterz product description]
* {{Endn|2}}: [[Grand Alliance: Destruction]] - Bonesplitterz, pg. 30
* {{Endn|3}}: [[Battletome: Bonesplitterz (2016)]]
** {{Endn|3a}}: pg. 4
** {{Endn|3b}}: pg. 99-101
** {{Endn|3c}}: pg. 59
** {{Endn|3d}}: pg. 68
** {{Endn|3e}}: pg. 74
** {{Endn|3f}}: pg. 22-23
** {{Endn|3g}}: Pg. 14-15
** {{Endn|3h}}: Pg. 16-17
** {{Endn|3i}}: Pg. 26-29
** {{Endn|3j}}: Pg. 11
** {{Endn|3k}}: Dawn of a Great Waaagh!, pg. 12-13
** {{Endn|3l}}: The Spirit of a Savage God, pg. 8-9
** {{Endn|3m}}: Kop Rukks, pg. 34-35
** {{Endn|3o}}: Unruly Allies, pg. 10
** {{Endn|3p}}: Wurrgog Prophets, pg. 32-33
* {{Endn|4}}: [https://ageofsigmar.com/warcry/ Warcry section in Age of Sigmar website]
* {{Endn|5}}: [[Battletome: Orruk Warclans (2019)]]
** {{Endn|5a}}: Bonesplitterz of the Realms, pg. 22-23
** {{Endn|5b}}: Spirit of a Savage God, pg. 18-19
** {{Endn|5c}}: Power of the Waaagh!, pg. 32-33
** {{Endn|5c}}: Bonesplitterz, pg. 16-17
* {{Endn|6}}: [[Soulbound: Champions of Destruction]]
** {{Endn|6a}}: Chapter Two: Archetypes
** {{Endn|6b}}: Chapter Five: Equipment
** {{Endn|6c}}: Chapter Six: Between Adventures
{{Orruk Warclans}}
{{Grand Alliance/Destruction}}
[[Category:Grand Alliance of Destruction]]
[[Category:Age of Sigmar factions]]
[[Category:Bonesplitterz| ]]