Vandus Hammerhand

From Age of Sigmar - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search

Vandus Hammerhand, Lord-Celestant of The Hammerhands Warrior Chamber of the Hammers of Sigmar Stormhost.[1]

Vandus Hammerhand.

All around the Brimstone Beachhead there are statues built in his image.[4a]

Appearance

Vandus's golden war helm is crowned with the image of Ghal Maraz, Sigmar's fabled hammer.

History

Age of Chaos

In the Age of Chaos, Vandus Hammerhand was Vendell Blackfist, the smith-lord of the Direbrand Tribe. When Korghos Khul’s Goretide invaded the Brimstone Peninsula in the Realm of Aqshy the tribe bravely resisted and was one of those last to be conquered. Before his soul was snatched away to be reforged by Sigmar, Vendell saw Khul kill everyone he had ever cared for.[1][3][5a]

First Strike

The Hammers of Sigmar were chosen to spearhead the new war against Chaos in the Mortal Realms and begin the Realmgate Wars. They were tasked claiming a Realmgate on the Igneous Delta from the forces of Chaos, to allow the stormcast hosts to march directly into battle. Most enemies would have recoiled in dismay from the onslaught as the Stormcast arrived in bolts of lightning but instead, the warriors of Korghos Khul’s Goretide welcomed it with bloodthirsty howls and the opening moments of the battle were frantic and confused.[1][4]

The Bloodbound's vast numbers and battle-lust soon threatened to overwhelm the valiant Hammers of Sigmar and Khul himself began to hack his way towards Vandus Hammerhand. Although Khul was defeated in this initial clash, the two would fight again at the climax of the campaign. During that duel Vandus determined that Khul had another realmgate, the Gate of Wrath that lead directly to the Realm of Chaos and potentially limitless daemonic reinforcements.[1]

He set forth to destroy that gate, fighting his way through the hordes of the bloodbound to once again confront Khul. The Chaos champion gains the upperhand and overpowered Vandus but in desperation the Stormcast threw himself at the chaos gate and asked Sigmar to use him as a focus point for his power so that he may destroy the gate. The God answered his warriors prayer and sent a titanic bolt of lightning down which destroyed the gate and allowed the Stormcast to consolidate their victory and claim the entire Brimstone Peninsula.[1][4]

Retrieving Ghal Maraz

The Hammerhands and the Celestial Vindicators fought through the Realm of Chamon to the dreadhold where Ghal Maraz was being kept by Ephryx, the Ninth Disciple of Tzeentch at the behest of the greater daemon Fateweaver. He along with a coven of Lords of Change were attempting to use the power of the hammer to transport the entire realm of metal to the Realm of Chaos. [1]

The stormcasts managed to breakthrough and confront the daemons but the battle was going poorly until Vandus managed to reach Ghal Maraz. Using Sigmars hammer Vandus was able to banish the Daemon almost effortlessly. The hammer was returned to Sigmar in the Realm of Azyr where he used its power to complete the re-forging of the Celestant-Prime.

The Anachron Plateau

The Greater Daemon, Kiathanus who Sigmar had defeated at the Battle of the Burning Skies had been imprisoned and now seemed to be on the brink of release on the Anachron Plateau, to forestall this event, Sigmar sent the Hammers of Sigmar and Vanus Hammerhand. They are confronted not only by daemons in the service of the Gaunt Summoner, the Watcher King, but by the strange properties of the Plateau itself where time moves strangely and unpredictably.[2]

Undeterred, the Stormcast fight their way towards the giant idol of the Truthsayer even as the Watcher King calls in more allies including Slishy's Cavalcade, servants of Slaanesh to delay then whilst he consults the daemon statue. As the Daemon is released, Archaon himself arrives with the full force of his Varanguard to bind the daemon to his service. He and Vandus duel briefly before the Everchosen tears him in half and sends him back to Sigmar’s realm.[2]

Quotes

This night, we open gates long closed. This night, we smite the savage. This night, we smite the daemon. We cross the infinite. We dare to return to the realms of our birthright. Fate gave you your gifts, and the Forge has augmented them a hundredfold. You are the foremost servants of the God-King now. You are his blades, you are his shields, you are his vengeance. You are the finest, the strongest, the purest. In pain were you made, but in glory will you live. No purpose have you now but to bring terror to the enemy, to lay waste to his lands and to shatter his fortresses.

~Vandus to his Stormcast.[3]

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