Anvils of the Heldenhammer

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A Liberator of the 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]

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

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

Strike Chambers

Chambers of Unspecified Type

Notable

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

~Lord-Veritant Keiser Ven Brecht.[17b]

Sources

Stormcast Eternals
Units Command Echelon Drakesworn TemplarKnight-ArcanumKnight-AzyrosKnight-DraconisKnight-HeraldorKnight-IncantorKnight-JudicatorKnight-RelictorKnight-VenatorKnight-VexillorLord-AquilorLord-ArcanumLord-CastellantLord-CelestantLord-ExorcistLord-ImperatantLord-OrdinatorLord-RelictorLord-VeritantPraetor
Angelos Conclave ProsecutorStormstrike ChariotVanguard-HunterVanguard-Pallador
Corpuscant Conclave Evocator
Justicar Conclave JudicatorCastigatorVanguard-RaptorVigilor
Ordinatos Conclave Celestar BallistaSacristan Engineer
Paladin Conclave AnnihilatorDecimatorProtectorRetributorDracothian Guard (ConcussorDesolatorFulminatorTempestor) • Stormdrake Guard
Redeemer Conclave LiberatorSequitorVanquisherVindictor
Questors Errant-QuestorKnight-QuestorQuestor Soulsworn
Azyrite Beasts AetherwingCelestial DracolineDracothGryph-ChargerGryph-HoundStar-DrakeStar-EagleStar FalconTauralon
Characters Inner Circle Celestant-PrimeKarazaiKrondysYndrasta
Lord-Commanders Bastian CarthalosGolden PatriarchShining Lord
Lords of the Hosts Arkas WarbeastAstreia SolbrightAventis FirestrikeBalthas ArumCerrus SentanusGardus Steel SoulGavriel SureheartImperius (Loxia) • Ionus CryptbornJactos GoldenmaneLynus GhalmorianOrius AdamantineRamus of the Shadowed SoulSylas BeastbaneTarsus Bull-HeartThostos BladestormTyberain VostVandus Hammerhand (Calanax) • Victrian CyroccoVorrus StarstrikeZephacleasZenius the DirgeZeraphina Heldensdotter
Knights of the Hosts Neave Blacktalon (Blacktalons) • Hamilcar Bear-EaterTornus the Redeemed
Underworld Warbands Farstriders (Almeric Eagle-EyeElias SwiftbladeSanson Farstrider) • Ironsoul's Condemnors (Brodus BlightbaneGwynne IronsoulTavian of Sarnassus) • Steelheart's Champions (Angharad BrightshieldObrynSeverin Steelheart) • Storm of Celestus (AphusDrakan CelestusMellisan Star-SightedSleek) • Stormsire's Cursebreakers (Ammis DawnguardAveron StormsireRastus) • Xandire's Truthseekers (Calthia XandireDhoraz Giant-FellLuxa StormriderTaros)
Stormhosts First Striking Angels AethericAnvils of the HeldenhammerAstral TemplarsAzyrite ArbitersBlades of DawnCelestial VindicatorsHallowed KnightsHammers of SigmarHelden SonsLions of SigmarSigmarite BrotherhoodSons of the GladiusStormblood Guard
Second Striking Blooded DawnCelestial KnightsCelestial Warbringers Crimson SeraphsFists of SigmariteGhyran GuardKnights ExcelsiorKnights of AzyrKnights of the AuroraLightning HawksMaelstrom of LightRadiant Suns of SigmarSilent HostSons of MallusSons of the StormTempest Lords
Unknown Striking Azure GuardBarony of ThunderBlack DracothiansBlackhammersCelestial LionsCerulean CometsEmerald WardensGleaming SpearsGuardians of the FirmamentHammers of RetributionHeralds of CasandoraIron ThanesIron TridentsJusticars of AzyrKnights AuroraKnights IndomitableKnights MercilessKnights TempestorKraken BladesSunboltsSundered BrotherhoodTempered BladesTrue Sons of Sigmar
Background Anvil of ApotheosisChamber SerfLord-CommandersReforgingRedeemedSigmariteStormhosts (ChambersConclavesRetinues) • Transfigured
ArtworkMiniatures - Endless Spells