Shadrac Convergence
The Shardrac Convergence is one of the most important regions in the Realm of Ulgu. Situated at the meeting point of many of Ulgu's Thirteen Dominions, Shadrac is a nexus of trade and politics.[2a]
Yet, at its center sits one of the most shrouded and gloomiest regions of all of Ulgu, the Umbral Veil, and a well of shadow magic known as the Helleflux.[2a]
Characteristics
The ever-shrouded seas of the Shadrac Convergence are notoriously hard to navigate. Very few have managed to steer their ship across the dark waves without magical help, or falling prey to the many malicious entities lurking in the wilds of these lands. [2a]
Inhabitants
The Realm of Shadow demands adaptability, and a certain outlook from all those seeking to make their home in these lands. Subterfuge, misdirection and opportunism are valuable traits in Misthåvn, and the other Ulguan settlements. While these conditions make these lands look unwelcome for many Duardin and factions like the Phoenix Temple, opportunistic Humans and insular communities like the Darkling Covens or Shadowblades have come to thrive in these lands.[2a]
Maybe none more than the Daughters of Khaine. Hagg Nar, the first temple city, and heart of the Khainite Cult has grown from a small shrine on the Helleflux Islands to a militarized center of Morathi's empire. Massive temples and gladiatorial arenas can be found across the Convergence, from Klarondu to Fuarthorn.[2a]
Economy
From its current location on the innermost tip of Klarondu, the city of Misthåvn dominates the sea trade in the inner convergence.[2a] Every form of illicit or contraband goods takes place in the city, narcotics, dark illusory magic and even stolen Chaos weapons, are said to trade hands.[2a] Hagg Nar is a major trade partner despite tensions with Khainites and goods traded include shadow-woven silks, illusory charms and prisoners for Khainite sacrifices. [2a]
One of the biggest exports are the strange and diverse Misthåvn Narcotics which first gained ground in the shadowy markets of Misthåvn. But over the years the drugs have swiftly spread to the black markets of many other Free Cities, and from these centers of trade they spread far and wide, to the point they, and drugs much like them, can be found in most major cities of the Mortal Realms.[4a] Scourge Privateers hunt down beasts with magical properties that dwell in the shadow-sea such as the abyssal glatch and the frenzied sawfang. Their corpses are then processed and broken down to produce magical narcotics that can give magical powers when consumed. While this narcotics industry is illegal the Conclave ignores them due to its importance to the city's economy.[2a]
History
Age of Myth
- Reunited again after the end of the world-that-was, Malerion and Morathi, claimed the Shadrac Convergence as their own, and founding their great kingdom of Druchiroth.[2a]
- For a time, mother and son guided the mortals of Ulgu, and the lands thrived. Yet their unity did not lasted forever. When Nagash revealed Morathi's twisted, true form to the Pantheon of Order, Malerion banished her to the Helleflux, the darkest of the lands of Ulgu.[3a] Here, she took over a fledgling cult to the old aelven god of murder, Khaine. Proclaiming her the High Oracle of Khaine, Morathi soon grew Hagg Nar from a small shrine to a might power, rivaling even mighty Ulguroth.[2a]
- Growing outward from the Umbral Veil, the Cult of Khaine spreads across the Thirteen Domains, establishing dozens of new temples and shrines.[5a]
- As new sects are founded and grow, so do their ambitions. Their rivalry soon erupts in a bloody civil war. The High Oracle let it run its course, weeding out those deemed too weak, or too ambitious.[5a]
- On top of the mountain Rothtor, Morathi lays the foundation of the Ironshard, the future home of the Khelt Nar sect. But before the warriors of Khaine can focus on expanding their new domain, they had to first hunt down and kill the many monstrous creatures and tribes of Bonesplitter tribes that call these lands their home.[5a]
Age of Chaos
- The arrival of Chaos throws the Convergence into a bloody conflict between Aelfs and Chaos worshippers, known as the Cathrar Dhule, especially the Daughters of Khaine, and the followers of Slaanesh.[2a] In the dark valleys, and shrouded woods of the Umbral Veil, hosts of khainite warriors, and Daemons of Slaanesh meet on bloody battlefields. One of the most ferocious leader of the Chaos hordes ravaging Ulgu was Luxcious the Keeper, destroyer of the temples of Neff-Taal, Prax Nar and Traith-Kine.[5a]
- The assassins of the Skaven Clans Eshin leave their mark on the lands of the Convergence, some of their lairs remaining to this day.[2a]
- As Luxcious hosts marches on Hagg Nar, Morathi called the first Caillich Coven, summoning warriors from every khainite sect. The Battle of Druchxar saw the largest force of Scáthborn ever seen, with flocks of Khinerai and hosts of Melusai. At the climax of the battle, Morathi herself drives her spear deep into Luxcious chest, banish the great daemon back into the Realm of Chaos.[5a]
Age of Sigmar
- As the first hosts of the Stormcast Eternals arrive in Aqshy and Ghyran, so do they in the Realm of Ulgu. Concealed behind illusory magic, waiting and watching, it was at the battle of Dolmen Heights that the Daughters of Khaine revealed themselfes to the Celestial Warbringers, laying the foundation for the alliance between Morathi and Sigmar.[5a]
- Spreading a fungal infection across the Umbral Veil, the Gloomspite Gits Madcap Shaman Nitbug Dribblesnot proclaims himself the new Loonking. Turning the valleys of Va-Leth into his dank, fungal kingdom. His reign came to an end as a war coven of the Khailebron sect striked at the heart of Dribblesnots realm, slaying the mad shaman after a short but ferocious battle.[5a]
- As the Death rise across the Shadrac Convergence as the Necroquakes erupts across the realms, the Cathtrar Dhule continues unempeded. Only with the undead hordes joining the bloody war in the shadows.[6a]
- After betraying the Stormcast Eternals at Varanthax's Maw, and stealing the Ocarian Lantern from the Idoneth Deepkin, Morathi retreats to her Temple-City of Hagg Nar to complete her greatest ritual yet. Diving deep into the mother-cauldron Máthcoir, Morathi reaches into the gut of the chained Slaanesh. As the ritual progresses, a host of Idoneth Deepkin under the leadership of High King Voltornus races to reclaim the Ocarian Lantern, only to be forced into a bloody three-way battle between them, the Daughters of Khaine, and a horde of Slaanesh worshippers on the shores of Hagg Nar. Yet, they cant prevent the new born Goddess of Blood and Shadow to rise from the cauldron at the center of the Temple-City.[2b]
- Determined to spread the light of civilization across the Mortal Realms, Sigmar dispatches the Dawnbringer Crusades. Even in the shrouded valleys of the Shadrac Convergence, the Shadow Crusades march out to establish new strongholds. To navigate the shadow lands of Ulgu, these crusades rely heavily on the corsairs of the Scourge Privateers and the warriors of the Order Serpentis.[2a]
Locations
Landmasses
Bodies of Water
Realmgates
Cities
- Hagg Nar: First Temple-City of the Daughters of Khaine[2a]
- Misthåvn: City of Scoundrels, and one of Sigmar's seven Fortress Cities[2a]
Major Settlements
- Draichi Ganeth[2a]
- Noble's Height[2a]
- Ulthern Citadel[2a]
- Hellebrach Khai[2a]
- Zortil Kharr[2a]
- Ironshard[2a]
- Ducha Zhur[2a]
- Ithid Zar[2a]
- Grydd Var[2a]
- Itril Gharr[2a]
Points of Interest
- Harrowdeep: A mysterious, labyrinthian ruin below the sea floor[2a]
- The Great Gleam[2a]
Sources
- 1: Broken Realms: Morathi, pg. 32-33
- 2: Age of Sigmar: Core Book (3rd Edition)
- 3: Battletome: Daughters of Khaine (2018)
- 3a: Dancing with Shadows pg. 6-7
- 4: Soulbound Champions of Order
- 4a: Chapter Six: Equipment
- 5: Battletome: Daughters of Khaine (2021)
- 5a: As the Blood flows, pg.16
- 6: Soulbound Core Rulebook
- 6a: Chapter Eight: The Mortal Realms, Ulgu, pg.182