Battle of Varanthax’s Maw

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Battle of Varanthax’s Maw is a battle fought in the Eightpoints when the Stormcast Eternals and the Daughters of Khaine attacked the Varanthax's Maw to disrupt the mining of Varanite that is being used to corrupt the Meteoric Gate, the Arcway of Azyr.[1]

Background

The Gaunt Summoners have long researched into the properties of Varanite, discovering it could corrupt even that is otherwise immune to the taint of Chaos. However the substance was rare and dangerous to mine, at least until large deposits were discovered in the Varanthax's Maw. Archaon sent the Gaunt Summoner known as the Keeper of Tomes to oversee the mining and the rapid industrialisation of the Maw. Soon processed Varanite was being transported to the Meteoric Gate. This was observed by spies sent by Morathi, Khainite Shadowstalkers who had infiltrated the Eightpoints with greater success than Sigmar's Stormcast Eternal.[1a][1b]

When a band of Shadowstalkers brought the news about varanite and the Varanthax's Maw, Morathi was intrigued by the substance’s seemingly unlimited potential and declared varanite to be the ‘Blood of Khaine’ and declared that it must be reclaimed. As she lacked the power to assault the Eightpoints she travelled to the palace-city of Sigmaron alongside a retinue of her most trusted disciples to forge a common cause with Sigmar. While Sigmar did not trust her due to Teclis and Tyrion both having warned him of her duplicitous nature the threat of Archaon forcing open the Azyrite Arcway was too great to ignore.[1b]

Prelude

Morathi noted that the invasion of the Eightpoints by the Ossiarch Bonereapers gives them an opportunity to strike and proposed that the majority of their joint force would strike through the mountainous valleys that surrounded the Maw, laying siege to the forge and drawing the attention of its defenders while a second, smaller force, led by herself, would breach the lower levels of the complex through paths mapped out by her Shadowstalkers and by searing wound in the deep earth filled with the realmstone tear open a portal to the Aetheric Void into which the varanite would drain away. While Sigmar was not swift to agree he had little options and sent detachments from the Hammers of Sigmar, Hallowed Knights and others including the Sons of Mallus, the Azure Guard and the Knights of the Aurora. Morathi herself requested the aid of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer citing past experiences in joint campaigns. However most of the Anvils’ military power was battling gheist-storms unleashed by Nagash and thus the they were drawn in from the Black Nexus Stormkeep of their ward city Anvilgard although it left the city vulnerable. Elements of the six foremost Khainite sects would join Morathi’s contingent and her ‘most trusted’ agents were already in the Eightpoints and the Shadowstalkers would rise up and begin a campaign of murder, sabotage and misdirection that would open the way for invasion. [1c]

The celestial currents that typically carried the Stormcast Eternals to war could not be easily used in the Eightpoints as the chaos energy seeped from the portal above the Varanspire turned the skies into maelstrom of sorcery and fire that would drag Stormcasts into the Realm of Chaos. The Genesis Gate was situated close enough to Varanthax’s Maw to be strategically viable but Alarielle the Everqueen was reluctant to open a pathway from her heartlands to the domain of Archaon but Morathi’s eloquent pleas softened her resolve. While Sylvaneth would not join the assault due to the War of Life she agreed that Sigmarite-Khainite host can pass.[1d]

Path to the Skullpike Mountains

Battle of the Genesis Gate

Archaon had fortified his own side of the Arcway with a host of brass-spiked fortresses, watchtowers and row upon row of trenches filled with vicious stakes and bubbling pools of acid garrisoned scarred veterans. However they were not prepared for the wall of crystal-clear water that was sent by the Everqueen. The wave was high enough that it crashed across the ramparts of the dreadforts and the warriors on them with bone-crushing force. The tsunami cleared the lands surrounding the mouth of the Genesis Gate in the Eightpoints, swallowing vast swathes of land and the enchanted waters caused verdant life to suddenly blossom, coils of barbed vines lashing out to ensnare packs of chaos footsoldiers and tear them to bloody shreds, ancient, weathered roots burst from the ground, tearing great breaches in cursed stone. Following the tide came the Stormcast Eternals with the Hammers of Sigmar claiming the honour of the first charge led by Lord-Celestant Andrus Nihilat and then with a chorus of piercing battle-cries, the Daughters of Khaine joined with Witch Aelves leaping over the Stormcast shieldwall to land amidst their prey. While the Slaves to Darkness fought with their customary ferocity they were soon overrun by allied troops. Over forty crusade chambers from Stormhosts alongside forces from six Khainite temples attacked the Ghyran Arcway and no defender escaped alive.[1d]

The Stormcast Eternals found the post-battle rituals of the Daughters disgusting and Lord-Celestant Nihilat bristled at having to fight alongside them while the Melusai Ironscale Vatheira Seris to take delight in causing as much pain to her defeated foes. Processions of Cauldron of Blood guarded by snake-bodied Melusai rolled through the Arcway and Morathi herself entered atop the largest such altar. At her side came the Zainthar Kai – ancient and formidable Melusai warriors who carried in their veins the cursed blood of Khaine. Having stressed the need for her strike force to be small and fast-moving, the High Oracle was joined by a contingent from the Dolorites, one of the foremost Sacrosanct Chambers of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer led by Lord-Arcanum Vennerdreizh and were to keep a close eye on the High Oracle. A rearguard consisting of Hallowed Knights and warriors of the Ghyran Guard remained behind to dig in and defend the Genesis Gate. The rest of the army made marched towards the Skullpike Mountains. From a distant hilltop the Herald of Slaanesh Glavia Sinheart watched the columns of Stormcast warriors and their Khainite allies having seen this in its dreams. Sinheart’s also rode its chariot towards the Skullpike Mountains.[1d]

Desolate March

Before the Skullpike Mountains stretched wide and barren plains known as the Desolate March. The first battlegroup under Lord-Celestant Narbus Lightbearer of the Hallowed Knights was to secure the Genesis Gate against the inevitable Chaos counterattack, the second, comprised mainly of Ranger veterans from the Vanguard Auxiliary Chambers and infiltration experts from the shadowy Khailebron temple of Khainite zealots, would push ahead of the main advance, clearing outposts and sentry towers jointly commanded by Lord-Veritant Keiser Ven Brecht of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer and Hag Queen Scylleth. Ven Brecht replaced Lord-Aquilor Themistoclan who was slain during the fighting around the Genesis Gate. Lord-Celestant Nihilat would lead the overground assault upon Varanthax’s Maw alongside the Melusai Ironscale Vatheira Seris and her Hagg Nar and Zainthar Kai elite. [1e]

Such a large army cannot be easily concealed and Morathi had sent her agents to Orpheon Katakros, Mortarch of the Necropolis. By delivering an enormous tithe of shadow-infused bones taken from the corpse-filled vales of Ulgu Morathi was able to convince the Mortis Praetorians to launch their own offensive towards the Varanspire. Katakros was happy to help destroy Archaon’s varanite mining operations and also hoped the forces of Order would also take heavy casualties.[1e]

Still even in the Desolate Marches Lord-Celestant Nihilat and his warriors were continuously attacked by throngs of Chaos worshippers, Pus-dripping cannibal reavers, beastmen and Chaos Furies.. At Soulfire Fields, a charge of Dracoth-riding cavalry broke through the stubborn defence of a company of Blessed Sons, driving the bloated champions of Nurgle into the acidic mists spewed by a cluster of sulphurous geysers, the Firemanes Chamber of the Lions of Sigmar was decimated while defending Goreslake Pass against a tide of Bloodbound that threatened to drive into the flank of Nihilat’s column but bought time for the Zainthar Kai, to encircle and destroy the enemy. Even the land turned against dragging warriors down into pits of teeth that appeared without warning, skewered and sapped of their lifeblood by crystalline, predatory trees, or dissolved entirely by a sudden downpour of black vitriol. Still, Nihilat’s pace did not reduce and even though the enemy was endless they were uncoordinated. Ven Brecht and the Vanguard Auxiliary Chambers, working in concert with the illusory masters of the Khailebron, sent scouts to warn of every enemy manoeuvre. Khinerai Heartrenders harryied the Chaos forces with a rain of javelins, while providing invaluable communication between the two army groups. After several days Nihilat and his host had crossed the Desolate March. However Nihilat and Ironscale Seris grew suspicious at the enemy’s failure to bring them to a decisive battle. Then the High Oracle and her smaller force entered the caverns that stretched deep below Varanthax’s Maw while the rest moved towards to draw out the defenders.[1e]

Battle of Varanthax's Maw

Beneath the Maw

Travelling through treacherous winding tunnels and caverns vast enough to house a city, Morathu and her warrors marched alongside the Dolorites Sacrosanct Chamber. Even the underground was home to multitudes of troglodytic Chaos-worshippers and malformed beasts. Despite losses the host pressed on towards the heart of Varanthax’s Maw following a winding route marked with umbral glyphs by Khainite Shadowstalkers until the air grew blisteringly hot entering the lowest depths of the Maw. Here the ground fell away into a vast, bowl-shaped pit half-filled with a bubbling crimson liquid that splashed against the walls of the cavern warping the rock into screaming, half-formed faces. The bloated, tubular bodies of three gigantic bore-wyrms descended into the simmering pool, each surrounded by a metal cradle of walkways, extractor-engines and fortified towers. [1f]

Lord-Arcanum Vennerdreizh and her warriors struck at the fortified walkways extending over the lake of varanite and the cruel taskmasters of the Molten Wound hurled open the gates containing their malformed thralls. Enraged fomoroids followed by horn-helmed savages advanced only to be answered by the lightning of the Stormcasts’ spirit-infused weapons screaming warriors were hurled over iron gantries, toppling into the bubbling varanite below. Meanwhile Morathi ordered her Zainthar Kai to her side while she called upon the magic of Ulgu. The Dolorites were experts in the arcane arts but not even they could see through the illusions conjured by High Oracle. They saw the roof of the cavern split apart as a fourth bore-wyrm smashed through the igneous rock, sending an avalanche of debris raining down upon them, demolishing one of the walkways and dividing them from their Khainite allies while Morathi in concentration as she strove to tear open a portal to the Aetheric Void, and the Zainthar Kai fighting desperately to hold back the Chaos worshippers. Only Lord-Arcanum Vennerdreizh saw the lie her practised eyes saw the minute imperfections in the scene before her and the real Zainthar Kai slip away into the shadows, leaving the Anvils to be surrounded on all sides. But before she could call out to her fellow Stormcast Eternals she was stabbed with a poisoned sliver of shadowstone embedded by an aelf, paralysing and encasing her in a transmuted form, unable to speak or scream. [1f]

Morathi used the Heartrender to pierce the hides of the Bore-wyrms and streams of varanite spilled forth into Cauldrons of Blood and the flow of varanite went on and on but none were filled as all were connected through magic to the Mother Cauldon, the Máthcoir of Hagg Nar and every drop of varanite that spilled into the Blood Cauldrons was transported to Morathi’s stronghold. When the varanite in the beasts were emptied Morathi commanded her Zainthar Kai to stage a fighting withdrawal.[1f]

Beseiging the Gates

Lord-Celestant Nihilat and the host reached the Valley of Ashes and before them was the entrance to the Maw, bathed in the glow of infernal forge-fires and encircled by a vast Dreadhold. A Chaos army that far outnumbered their own forces was arrayed against them. A mass of ironclad infantry flanked by wedges of chariots and behind them eight Chaos Warshrines. However they had to keep the enemy fixed here to buy time for the High Oracle to complete her ritual. The Lord-Celestant rode uon his Dracoth, Iximir, onwards. [1g]

The gates of Varanthax’s Maw was defended by Rokar Gresh, an Idolator Lord whose worship of the Ruinous Powers had long crossed over into deranged obsession. Convinced that he was chosen by the Chaos Gods as the embodiment of their wrath, he led his thousands-strong horde of zealots known as the Crimson Brethren to the gates of the Maw, believing the discovery of sacred varanite to be a sign of the forge’s significance to the Dark Pantheon and swore to safeguard the forge at all cost. Sinheart brought word of the enemy host to Gresh and he did not waste a moment ordering his Marauder tribesmen to strike out against the Stormcast Eternals and their aelf allies but swayed the warlord away from joining this first assault personally claiming that rushing forth without caution would draw the wrath of the gods. The Eater of Tomes was floating above the gathered Crimson Brethren on a Disc of Tzeentch smiling in anticipation of the opportunity to test the results of his research on varanite.[1g]

The Stormcast Eternals advanced down into the Valley of Ashes in ranks twelve deep, Liberators forming a gleaming shieldwall. Rokar Gresh sent his own infantry to meet them, hundreds of Chaos Warriors hurling themselves against the enemy and the centre of the valley devolved into a grinding slaughter. Lord-Celestant Nihilat’s army finally arrived before the walls of Varanthax’s Maw. Rokar Gresh saw the advancing dracoths and rode his chariot ahead of his and Gresh's mighty axe hacked left and right, cleaving through sigmarite armour and lopping Witch Aelves in two.The Eater of Tomes saw that the enemy was fully engaged and he ordered Warshrines, radiating a aura that infected nearby warriors with a killing madness. The allied advance faltered, as the Chaos forces threw themselves at the Hammers of Sigmar and their allies ignoring horrendous wounds. With every slain foe, the Warshrines blazed more fiercely, their blasphemous sigils glowing red-hot and casting the scenes of slaughter around them in a crimson light. Each of the war-icons had been forged from varanite, tempered by the hideous rituals of the Eater of Tomes and now fuelled by pain and death, they became lodestones of ruinous power causing the ground beneath them to bubble and crack while zealots among the Crimson Brethren began to undergo a hideous transformation into mindless Chaos Spawn that fell upon the enemy with fang-stuffed maws and lashing pseudopods. The sky turned the colour of clotted blood that swallowed the flashing bursts that marked the death of a Stormcast warrior, the disembodied essences of slain warriors were drawn into the blazing symbols of the Crimson Brethren’s Warshrines, disappearing in howls of agony. Chaos had had cut the cord that bound the Stormcast Eternals to Sigmaron, the souls of the slain reduced to playthings for the Dark Gods. As the Lord-Celestant cast around for a route to break free and retreat, he saw thousands of Chaos Warriors spilling from the canyons behind their battleline, encircling his army. [1g]

Ven Brecht’s cut through enemies to reach Lord-Celestant Nihilat who was alongside the body of his slain dracoth. Nihilat rallied the nearby warriors and launched an attack on the nearest Warshrine. Ven Brecht leapt atop the warshrine and burnt the shrinemaster with the light of his Lantern of Abjuration before hurling him aside. The Stormcasts smashed the shrine with their hammers until it exploded. Then Ven Brecht was sent back to Azyr by Nihilat’s sword.[1g]

Aftermath

While Archaon was denied his varanite the allied host also took heavy casualties while Morathi achieved her goal of stealing the varanite for her ritual to achieve godhood. Retreating back to Hagg Nar she began preparing for the ritual t achieve her goal but was followed by Glavia Sinheart to Ulgu.[1h] Lord-Veritant Keiser Ven Brecht was remade upon the Anvil of Apotheosis, and had delivered his urgent missive directly to the God- King who received the news of the disaster in the Eightpoints gravely and immediately ordered forth fresh reinforcements to relieve the survivors. However Ven Brecht would not be joining them as news of unrest in Anvilgard had reached Sigmaron and was sent to root out the cause of this disharmony.[1i]

Sources

  • 1: Broken Realms: Morathi
    • 1a: Varanthax's Maw, pg.10-11
    • 1b: Molten Blood, pg.12-13
    • 1c: War Clouds Gather, pg.16-17
    • 1d: Wrath of Azyr, pg.20-21
    • 1e: Desolate March, pg.22-23
    • 1f: Shadow and Treachery, pg.24-25
    • 1g: Catastrophe, pg.26-29
    • 1h: The Brink of Triumph, pg.34-37
    • 1i: Ven Brecht's Return, pg.56-57