Perspicarium
The Perspicarium of Hammerhal Aqsha is one of the most renowned and important Stormkeeps of the Hammers of Sigmar, some sources even arguing it is greater than Fort Ignis and is widely considered to be the grandest.[1a][2a]
It is built atop a high pillar of rock that looms over the Stormrift Realmgate, at the heart of Hammerhal Aqsha. From this perch it watches over the city and war hosts march from it every day.[1a]
Contents
History
The construction of the Perspicarium was already underway when the Stormcast Eternals were purging the Greenskins from the region that would be Hammerhal Aqsha and the Lord-Castellants relied on the colossal plinth of igneous rock known as the Basalarach upon which the Stormrift Gate resides to lay the foundations of the new Stormkeep. The first towers had already enveloped the realmgate thirty turnings of the flame-moons Thaquia and Evigaine.[2a]
Design
Perspicarium is a city within a city, entirely devoted to war hidden behind golden buttresses and cathedral-sized gatehouses. Thoroughfares lined with statues and towers connect the areas of the Stormkeep, within are domed arenas using magics derived from the gladitorium where Stormcasts drill relentlessly while forges and workshops aid in the construction of prefabricated structures of the Dawnbringer Crusades. Stormcast and city's military leaders meet within the high spires to plan campaigns and draw up writs of conquests to launch new Dawnbringer Conquests. [2a]
Outside of the high ranking officers of Hammerhal's armies very few mortals have seen the inner areas of the Perspicarium. The inner areas are sacred places consisting of shrines and cloisters, feasting halls lined with trophies hung alongside the standards of mortal regiments that fell at their side. The Basalarach's inside has been carved into monastic lairs of the Stormdrake Guard as the Draconith of Aqshy relish the heat within. Beneath the Basalarach are further opening into catacombs that run beneath Hammerhal and are under constant guard.[2a]
The Star Bridge of Perspicarium is among the most potent and is directly connected to the Temple of the First Striking which allows reinforcements to arrive swiftly.[2a]
Defences
Situated at the center of Hammerhal the enemy must fight across the city and the soldiers who had lived their entire lives in its shadow would fight to the bitter end to defend the Stormkeep. The Perspicarium is surrounded by a moat of fire created by opening magmatic rifts and rerouting natural channels of lava. Vast walls cover the Stormkeep and within alcoves of these walls are statues of saints which are precursors of the Guardian Idols used in Sigmarite Strongpoints.[2a]
Garrison
The Stormkeep can hold 20 Chambers of Stormcast Eternals at a time but as most Hammers of Sigmar spend only a small time in their fortress between their relentless campaigning its rare for even a tenth of the capacity to be used at a time. The Hallowed Knights maintain a small detachment in the Stormkeep representing Hammerhal Ghyra and even join Dawnbringer Crusades of Aqsha on occasion.[2a]
Sources
- 1: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2018)
- 1a: The Works of Sigmar Rise High, pg.16-19
- 2: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2021)
- 2a: Bastions of the Tempest, pg.14-17
