Anvils of the Heldenhammer
The Anvils of the Heldenhammer are a Stormhost of the Stormcast Eternals, wearing black armor. The warriors of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer are dark and brooding, as their Reforging came as the Broken World spun sinister under a magical gloom of fell magics.[1]
They are sinister of aspect and have an archaic mindset, using many practices and rites that were once long lost to mortal memory. What they fear the most is the prospect of their final demise, with many of their Lord-Relictors frequently brooding on the subject. They trust Sigmar to not lose the War of Spirits.[8]
Contents
Recruitment
The Anvils of The Heldenhammer are recruited from heroes of a distant age, long ancient dead that fight like spectres out of legend.[8] Unlike most Eternals, they were not taken on the brink of death but were already at rest when they were called by Sigmar, Nagash considers this an unforgivable theft and some inhabitants of Shyish were equally enraged to discover that their ancient heroes had been taken from them during their time of need.[10a]
But instead of feeling resentment against being plunged into battle once more, the opposite is true for these warriors of Sigmar. Protected from [Nagash]'s clutches through the miracle of Reforging, Death was no longer feared, but analyzed, studied, and in times, wielded as a weapon by the Anvils of the Heldenhammer, protectors of the lives and souls of Sigmar's people.[17b]
History
Realmgate Wars
- They were sent to contact Neferata, arriving in time to help defeat the forces of Chaos that had invaded her beloved city of Nulahmia.[4]
- Attacked the corrupted Whispering Gate held by the Grimskulls, sealing the gate and preventing a major daemonic incursion and infuriating Khorne.[7]
Broken Realms
Religion
There are many cults and catacomb-lodges that are part of the culture of the Stormhost.[10a] Deep within their Stormkeeps catacomb-shrines are dedicated to preserving the memory of those ancient death gods devoured by the Great Necromancer Nagash.[17b] Foremost among them is the god Morrda, widely worshipped in the great city of Shyish, Lethis. Often leaders of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer serve as high priests to these cults.[17b] Many of the Eternals revere Morrda, a god of the dead that resisted Nagash and remained whole in the ancient past, to find a way to thwart Nagash, and end his drag on their souls.[17b]
Stormkeeps
Grand Mausoleum
Located on the shores of Lake Lethis in the Underworld of Stygxx, Lethis is the greatest of the Shyishian Free Cities. At its centre stands the Stormkeep of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer. Built from black stone, the Grand Mausoleum looms forebodingly over the city. Standing guard over great swathes of holy soil, and the remains of saints and martyrs, the fortress almost seems like an enormous mortuary shrine. Yet, it is just as important to Sigmar's campaign in the Realms as it protects the Realmgate known as the Veil.[18a]
Black Nexus
The Black Nexus stands at the very heart of the city of Anvilgard. It towers over every other building in the city, it's dark walls are built from black volcanic rock that can be found along the Charrwind Coast. Gaining entry into the fortress is an almost impossible task, as only Stormcast Eternals are permitted to enter.[19a] For the Black Nexus is not only a fortress, but also a strategic hub of immense importance. Four different Realmgates are hidden inside the Black Nexus' walls. Allowing the Anvils of the Heldenhammer to swiftly relocated their forces across the Realms.[19b]
Warfare
In battle, the Anvils of the Heldenhammer employ strategies, refined over the long centuries, their lines among the finest of all the Stormcast hosts, as their warriors fight with the experience of lifetimes full of conflict. Their close relationship allows them to remain calm even in the heat of the fiercest battles, as even their dead on the field of battle is only temporary.[17b]
The same is not true for most of their opponents, so the Anvils decorate their armours with skeletal artefacts or skull-faced helmets, wielding the fear of death as another weapon in their arsenal. Many an army has laid down their weapons at the sight of these warriors before even a single blow has been struck.[17b]
Yet, the most hated of their many foes are the undead constructs of the Ossiarch Bonereapers. Nagash's Necrotopia, the rule of the dead over the living, is seen as perversion of everything Sigmar and the Stormcast Eternals believe in. Yet, the brutal clashes between these two are fought in unnerving silence. Save for the occasional command and blast of Azyrite energy as Sigmarite clashes against bone.[17b]
Reforging side-effects
The more they are reforged the more skeletal and dead they appear. Sunken eyes, and grey, corpse-like skin are common side effects documented among the Anvils of the Heldenhammer. Some Stormcast have also witnessed their booming voices drop through a faint whisper.[17b]
Chambers
Extremis Chambers
Sacrosanct Chambers
- The Dolorites: One of the foremost of the Anvil's Sacrosanct chambers.[14a]
- The Grave Brethren: Foremost of the Sacrosanct Chambers of the Anvils.[10a]
- The Sempiternals: They were charged with the defence of the Midnight Tomb beneath the city of Lethis. [10a]
Strike Chambers
- Imperishables: Made up of ancient heroes from the World-that-Was.[11a]
- Gravewalkers: Chamber led by Dathus.[9]
- Greygaunts: A chamber led by Thranus Greygaunt, who has been an enemy of Katakros since he was a mortal.[17a]
- Griefbringers: A chamber led by Thaddeon ven Denst.[12a]
- Sombre Sons: A Strike Chamber that fought in the Realm of Shyish during the Realmgate Wars.[12a]
- Venthor Warfire's Strike Chamber: The Strike Chamber commanded by Venthor Warfire.[20a]
Chambers of Unspecified Type
- Soulguard: One of three chambers that defended Lethis during the Siege of Sorrows.[17a]
Notable
- Knight-Azyros Huld: He burned the champion of Slaanesh, Lord Lascilion on the Temple Mount of Nulahmia and first greeted Neferata.[4][16]
- Knight-Incantor Miska, second in command of the Sacrosanct Chamber of Balthas Arum.[9]
- Liberator-Prime Calys Eltain of the Gravewalkers Chamber, stationed in the city of Glymmsforge.[9]
- Lord-Arcanum Balthas Arum of the Grave Wardens.[9]
- Lord-Castellant Pharus Thaum of the Gravewalkers Chamber.[9]
- Lord-Castellant Akturus Ironheel of the Imperishables Chamber. [11a]
- Lord-Celestant Makvar[4][16]
- Lord-Celestant Yurvash the Gallowsward: He entered the Fallow Kingdom of Voldyr to secure the Gate of Corpses Realmgate but he and his warriors were slain by Marrowthirst. [6]
- Lord-Relictor Kreimnar[4][16]
- Lord-Relictor Dathus of the Gravewalkers Chamber.[9]
- Lord-Celestant Thaddeon ven Denst[12a]: He fought on Great Green Torc in the Scabrous Sprawl
- Lord-Celestant Merennus, fought against Copsys Bule [13]
- Lord-Arcanum Vennerdreizh: She led the Dolorites chamber deep into the Maw of Varanthax.[14a]
- Lord-Veritant Keiser Ven Brecht [14b]
- Lord-Aquilor Themistoclan [14b]
- Lord-Castellant Ephrem Vanhelm [14c]
- Lord-Celestant Venthor Warfire [15a]
- Lord-Relictor Rhasan Darksight [15a]
- Lord-Castellant Arvax [15a]
- Lord-Veritant Hyreia [15a]
- Knight-Heraldor Brannok [16]
- Lord-Castellant Vogun [16]
Beasts
Voytragon, Dracoth of Thaddeon ven Denst[12a]
Quotes
| We will never take a step back, never relent. Such are the only things the God-King asks of us. No matter if it takes millennia, we will have our empire - and, eventually, our peace |
Sources
- 1: Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Primer, the Pageantry of War
- 2: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2015)
- 3: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals Extremis (2016)
- 4: The Realmgate Wars: Balance of Power The Razing of Nulahmia, pg. 98-106
- 5: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2017)
- 6: Battletome: Flesh-Eater Courts (2016) - The corpse orchards. pg 48-51.
- 7: Battletome: Khorne Bloodbound (2015), pg. 23-24
- 8: Needs Citation
- 9: Soul Wars (novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 10: White Dwarf Vol 3 No 36,
- 10a: Tome Celestial: The Sempiternals pg. 18-35
- 11: Hamilcar: Champion of the Gods
- 11a: Chapter One, pg. 19-20
- 12: The Realmgate Wars: Godbeasts
- 12a: The Anvil Tested, pg 223-226
- 13: Knight of Corruption by David Annandale
- 14: Broken Realms: Morathi
- 15: Neferata: The Dominion of Bones
- 15a: Chapter 2
- 16: Lord of Undeath (novel)
- 17: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2021)
- 18: Age of Sigmar: Core Book (3rd Edition)
- 18a: Lethis, pg. 116
- 19: Soulbound Anvilgard City Guide
- 20: The Vintage (Short Story)
