Godbeast
Zodiac Godbeasts, Zodiacal Monsters or simply Godbeasts are deific creatures who achieved godhood through the energies of the Mortal Realms. The most powerful are beyond the scope of mortal reckoning, known most often in legends and myths. But these powerful titans are very real and found all across the Mortal Realms, existing above the natural order of things.[3][6][11][26][27a]
Nature of Godbeasts
Evidence of these deific creatures can be found all across the Realms. Their bones are scattered across the Realm of Ghur, their likenesses can be found in temples, and the remains of some have even been turned into weapons. While many of the known Godbeasts are animalistic in appearance, not all of them are, such as Drakatoa the Living Avalanche.[26]
Some of these entities are tied closely to the energies of the Mortal Realms themselves, playing vital roles in how their Realms function. Such a connection exists between the Realm of Azyr and the near-omniscient Dracothion, who is an extension of the realm's power. Fangathrak holds within it the Arcway of the Realm of Ghur and Argentine, before being corrupted by Tzeentch, heated the metals of Anvrok so they could flow as rivers.[17a]
Other Godbeasts do not appear to be as intricately linked to the functions of the Realms and their natures are more inexplicable. Such is the case of Ghillnarad Dhor, Shurihuratha, and Chimerac.[17a]
Allegiances
Some of these entities have formed alliances with Sigmar's Pantheon of Order, the cosmic drake Dracothion is perhaps the most notable of these, while others have fell under the sway of Chaos. Some Shyishan Godbeasts were pressed into service by Nagash after he awoke in the Realm of Death.[29a] Many others remain unaligned, with their agendas being unknown to all save themselves.[26]
Known Godbeasts
- Argentine, the Silver Wyrm: The warpfire breath of this zodiacal serpent heats the Great Crucible creating rivers of silver that run through the Hanging valleys.[2b]
- Auroxis, the World-Beast: Felled by Sigmar during the Age of Myth.[8b]
- Behemat, the World Titan: A colossal creature of living stone that slumbers in Ghyran. Also called the Star Gargant and is rumoured to be the ancestor of Aleguzzler Gargants.[4][6]
- Bitterblood: Monstrous godbeast was found by Sigmar during his search of Nagash. Bitterblood was defeated and with ten thousand of its formless children was locked in a Stormvault beneath the Bitterblood Caverns in northern Stygxx.[14b]
- Dracothion, the Great Drake: Friend of Sigmar since he found him on Mallus.[1a]
- Drakatoa, the Living Avalanche of Ghyrria: A mountainous mass of primordial amber with a malign sentience.[25a]
- Fangathrak: In it's gullet can be found the Arcway of Ghur.[8c]
- Fangthar: A godbeast slain by the Bloodlords Legion.[33a]
- Ghillnarad Dhor: The Prince of Flowers. Hides secrets best left forgotten.[17a]
- Great Spider God: A godbeast worshipped by the Spiderfang Grots as an aspect of the God of Destruction, Gorkamorka.[24a]
- Hammergord: A bull-headed, furnace-hearted godbeast was slain by Sigmar during the Age of Myth.[14a]
- Ignax, the Solar Drake: A massive serpentine beast formerly imprisoned in the Ashlands of Aqshy. Ignax was freed and corrupted by Archaon.[4]
- Jorhar: An ur-bear whose innards were devoured by the first Frost King of the Beastclaw Raiders.[30a]
- Kharybtar: The Father of Kharibdysses, a shard of the Aelf god Khaine fell into its lair from where it was reclaimed by Morathi.[7]
- Kodzodon: The horn of this deific beast was used to create the relic known as the Hunt Horn of Kresh'ta.[28a]
- Krond: It is believed that the Krondspine Range are the skeletal remains of this godbeast, which was said to have been part wolf and part serpent.[21a]
- Lode-Griffon: A menace of the Spiral Crux. Died to Tzeentch trickery, signalling the Age of Chaos in the Realm of Chamon.[8a]
- Mammothas: The final verse of the Saga of the Barrel Kings recounts how the Bear-Eaters of the Astral Templars played a small role in death of this Godbeast.[20a][21a]
- Nagendra: The Father of Serpents slain by Sigmar during the Age of Myth. Rumoured to be the Writhing Serpent.[12][13]
- Okaenos: The Devourer is a skeletal, reptilian Godbeast encased in a glacier of ice. Formerly a servant of Nagash.[42b]
- Rakka Nak: A lava-dwelling trilipede that resides in the Realm of Aqshy[26]
- Sarathrasca: A leonine god-beast who tried to hunt Gorkamorka in the Age of Myth. [36a]
- Shattatusk: A titanic snow-white boar venerated by the Icebone Warclan.[19a]
- Shurihuratha: The Thought Viper.[17a]
- Skalok: The Skull Host of Khorne. A mighty dragoness that was hunted down by Vorgaroth the Scarred, and is now ridden into battle as his mount.[15]
- Skwidmuncha: A massive, twin-headed shark worshipped as a realm-spirit by Bonesplitterz.[26]
- Tatto'Na'Kotto: It dwells beneath the Shifting Stones and its children are a race of insect creatures, the Tattakan. [10]
- Ulfdengnarl: The Great Wolf of the Howling Winds.[18b]
- Ur-Phoenix: Master of the Phoenix Temple.
- Urs-Serkir: An ancient God-Bear whose rage ran as hot as Aqshy.[28a]
- Vulcatrix, the Mother of Salamanders, the Ur-Salamander: The fire wyrm that first birthed flame into the worlds. Slain by Grimnir.[1c][3]
- Vytrix, the Crystal Cockatrice: The zodiacal creature that devours the silver rivers of Anvrok. [2a]
- Ymnog, Grandfather of Gargants: The zodiacal sire of Behemat, slain by Sigmar during the Age of Myth.[4]
Notes
There are several creatures who have not been called Zodiac Godbeasts or synonyms, but might be as they share traits or have similar titles as them. The following is a speculative list of possible godbeasts:
- Great Stag: Creature dwelling near the Glade of Summoning at the Shimmerfall of Gloriphus
- Great King: An ancient Megalofin that fought Gorkamorka.
- Gorgahul: The Ur-Hydra, that inhabited the Quicksilver Swamp with her monstrous brood, until it was slain by Scylla Anfingrimm and his Bloodbound.
- Ghurish Titanox: A legendary head-beast who many claim is the ancestor of all Rhinoxen. It was slain by Grawl Meatfist, the first Overtyrant.[22a][22b]
- Ur-Wyrms: Mountain-sized draconic beasts that Sigmar and Gorkamorka fought during the Ur-Wyrm War.
- Varanthax: A gigantic drake, whose remains now lie in the Eightpoints. The infernal forge complex of Varanthax's Maw is named for its location near the drakes skeletal jaw.[23a]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer: Age of Sigmar
- 2: Warhammer: Age of Sigmar: Quest for Ghal Maraz
- 3: Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Primer
- 4: The Realmgate Wars: Godbeasts
- 5: The Realmgate Wars: All-Gates
- 6: Grand Alliance: Destruction - Aleguzzler Gargants, pg. 70-71
- 7: Battletome: Daughters of Khaine (2018): The Iron Heart of Khaine, p15
- 8: Age of Sigmar: Core Book (2nd Edition)
- 9: Callis and Toll: The Silver Shard (novel) by Nick Horth, pg. 179
- 10: Blacktalon: First Mark (novel) by Andy Clark, pg. 170-171
- 11: Battletome: Hedonites of Slaanesh (2019) - Shalaxi Helbane, pg. 28
- 12: Battletome: Fyreslayers (2019) - Born of Flame, pg. 14-19
- 13: Dread Solistice – Week 5: The Black Hungers
- 14: Warhammer Age of Sigmar - Forbidden Power
- 15: Vorgaroth the Scarred and Skalok the Skull Host of Khorne: Construction Guide
- 16: Battletome: Gloomspite Gitz (2019)
- 16a: Age of Loonacy, pg. 16
- 17: Soulbound Core Rulebook
- 17a: Chapter 10: Religion & Belief
- 18: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2018)
- 19: Battletome: Orruk Warclans (2019)
- 20: Gods & Mortals
- 21: Hamilcar: Champion of the Gods
- 21a: Chapter Seventeen, Pg. 172
- 22: Battletome: Ogor Mawtribes (2019)
- 23: Broken Realms: Morathi
- 23a: Act 1: Blood of Khaine
- 24: Battletome: Gloomspite Gitz (2019)
- 24a: The Bad Moon, pg. 8-9
- 25: Battletome: Sons of Behemat (2020)
- 25a: The Stamp of History, pg. 18-21
- 26: White Dwarf January 2021
- 27: White Dwarf April 2021
- 27a: Ask Grombrindal, Pg. 8
- 28: Soulbound: Artefact of Power
- 28a: Chapter Three: Ancient Relics
- 29: Soulbound: Champions of Death
- 29a: Chapter Eight: Death Is Not The End
- 30: Soulbound: Champions of Destruction
- 32: Realmslayer
- 33: Battletome: Blades of Khorne (2019)
- 33a: The Blood Legions, Pg. 22-24
- 34 The Realmgate Wars: Quest for Ghal Maraz
- 34a: To Silence the Dirge, pg. 65-69
- 35: Broken Realms: Kragnos
- 35a: Rite of Life, Pg. 4-13
- 36: White Dwarf October 2022
- 36a: Flashpoint: Rondhol, pg. 23