Steel Souls
The Steel Souls is a Warrior-Chamber of the Hallowed Knights.[1]
Contents
History
The Gates of Dawn
Near the beginning of the Age of Sigmar, Gardus Steel Soul leads this chamber to secure the Gates of Dawn, a realmgate that leads to the Realm of Aqshy. They quickly crush the followers of Nurgle in the vicinity. [4a] The gate however had been corrupted and it lead only to the garden of Nurgle in the Realm of Chaos and from the portal emerged the Great Unclean One Bolathrax, accompanied by his Rotguard. As the knights falter, Sigmar hurls down the Astral Templars to reinforce them, yet even together they are no strong enough to hold the field as chaos counters with a horde of Skaven from a gnawhole led by a Verminlord Corruptor. Gardus enters the realmgate to try and close it and attempting to stop him, Bolathrax destroyed the gate, itself and Gardus. A large wargrove of Sylvaneth arrives and with their aid the remaining daemons are banished.[4b]
Battle of Twelve-Thorn Gate
After the awakening of Alarielle, the Steel Souls, Sylvaneth and the duardin Root Kings destroyed the followers of Nurgle.[5]
Verdant Bay
Grymm led the Steel Souls in pursuit of the beastmen herds all across the Plains of Vo, tearing down herdstones, destroying and burning their festering camps. The last stand of the bestial folk was in a ruined harbour in the Verdant Bay. The next step was to assault the three vast sargasso-citadels that guarded the entrance to the bay which were held by the Order of the Fly.[5a]
Following a meeting with Sigmar himself, Gardus rejoined, bringing Tornus the Redeemed with him at the god-king's request. As the Stormcast attacked, the Order of the Fly sought to open the realmgate - the Gate of Weeds, to the Plague Garden of Nurgle. Following a duel with Blightmaster Bubonicus, Grymn sought to close the opening gate, using his warding lantern to hold back the tide of daemons and corruption, yet in turn he himself was sucked into the realm of Nurgle with several other Stormcast.[5b][5c]
Plague Garden
Whilst Grymn and the other seven stormcast fought to survive, his compatriots cleared the sargasso-citadels, even capturing one of the Order of the Fly, Gatrog, Lord-Duke of Festerfane. Gardus, now back in command, entered the garden with much of his chamber through the Gate of Weeds to rescue his lost brothers and sisters.[5c][5d]
They succeeded after passing through the seven levels of the garden. The Steel Souls returned to the Realm of Life following the sacrifice of the Lord-Relictor Morbus Stormwarden.[5e]
Into the Hexwood
Sigmar directed the Steel Souls to attempt the rescue of many soul-pods held captive and hostage by Tzaangor in the corrupted Hexwood that grows atop the Nevergreen Mountains in the Realm of Ghyran. Together with the Faithful Blades Freeguild Regiment they fought through ambush and worse to try to cleanse the wood of the Beastmen and free the Sylvaneth seeds. After much hard fighting, their Lord-Celestant and Liberator Serena Sunstrike were able to free them, allowing the newly born Sylvaneth take their own vengeance on their captors. The grateful tree-folk then marked the armour of the pair with distinctive knotted patterns as a token of esteem.[1]
Founding of Gravewild
The Steel Souls were one of three chambers of the Hallowed Knights sent to help in the founding of Caddow in Shyish. They were key in fending off attacks from the Slaaneshi Warriors of Chaos and Beastmen who were inhabiting the area.[6] Gardus himself actually helped convince Nagash to allow Sigmar control of the city, now renamed Gravewild, as well as the return of Tarsus Bull-Heart, in exchange for killing some of the forces of Archaon besieging Nagashizzar.[6a]
Organisation
Chamber Command
- Lord-Celestant Gardus Steel Soul: Who has survived Nurgle's Garden and escaped twice, he glows with light of Sigmar.[1][5][7]
- Lord-Castellant Lorrus Grymn: Lord-Castellant of the Steel Souls, when Gardus fell at the Athelwyrd he lead the chamber in battle in the Jade Kingdoms.[2a][5][7]
- Tallon: Male Gryph-hound of Lorrus Grymn.[5]
- Lord-Relictor Morbus Stormwarden: In his armour he resembles death made flesh.[2a][5][7]
- Lord-Veritant Carus Iron-oath [7]
- Knight-Vexillor Angstun Drahn [7]
- Knight-Venator Enyo the Sunwinger : She still recalls sailing above the Scholariums of Cypria and its clockwork legions, before it burned.[5][7]
- Periphas: Her Star-eagle.[5]
- Knight-Azyros Cadoc Kel: His armour is decorated in prayer scrolls and every flat surface has words - Canticles etched upon them, each one commerating a victory. Claims to be the last Prince of Ekran.[5][7]
- Knight-Heraldor Kurunta, Lion of the Hyaketes. [5][7]
Angelos Conclave
- Prosecutor-Prime Tegrus of the Sainted Eye and Retinue. His hand was regrown by the Lady of Vines, and his Retinue.[2a][7]
- Prosecutor-Prime Gadeon the Soarer and Retinue. [7]
- Prosecutor-Prime Raptia Everswift and Retinue. [7]
Paladin Conclave
- Protector-Prime Sigeric Cryptchanter and Retinue. [7]
- Decimator-Prime Diocletian the Rapt and Retinue. [7]
- Retributor-Prime Feros of the Heavy Hand and Retinue. Hero of the Celestine Glacier, less bellicose since his reforging. [1] [7]
- Protector-Prime Kahya Loreguardand Retinue. She was sucked into the Plague Garden with Grymn,[5] [7]
- Retributor-Prime Markius the Prayerful
- Decimator-Prime Machus Surefiath and Retinue. [7]
Redeemer Conclave
- Liberator-Prime Osric Alter-Son and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Godwin Argentus and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Maudis Brightveil and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Dunstan the Pious and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Beda Hopesong and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Tibius the Haloed and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Aetius Shieldborn and Retinue. It is said he is favoured by Alarielle and the Sylvaneth.[1][7]
- Liberator Serena Sunstrike: A Liberator of the Shieldborn conclave,[1]
- Liberator-Prime Jesryna the Steadfast and Retinue. [7]
- Liberator-Prime Justinian Tidehalter and Retinue. [7]
Justicar Conclave
- Judicator-Prime Solus the Watchman and Retinue. [2a][7]
- Judicator-Prime Ferron Stormshock and Retinue. [7]
- Judicator-Prime Belios the Thrice-Proven and Retinue. [7]
Quotes
| Who Stands before me, clad in silver and blood
Only the faithful Only the faithful could come this far. But we have farther still to go before our journey's end ~ Grym before the assault on the sargasso-citadels of Verdant Bay. [1] |
See Also
Sources
- 1: Hammerhal & Other Stories - Hammerhal by Josh Reynolds
- 2: Warstorm
- 2a: The Gates of Dawn by Josh Reynolds
- 3: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals Extremis (2016)
- 4: Mighty Battles
- 5: Plague Garden (novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 6: Hallowed Knights: Black Pyramid (novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 6a: Chapter Twenty-Seven
- 7: White Dwarf Vol.3 No 30, April 2019: The Tome Celestial, pg. 42
