Fantasy Warhammer is a world in which you hardly want to live. If we compare it with some of the historical periods of our planet, then the early new time in Europe will be closest, but although we are attributed to the rise of science, art, humanistic values in Warhammer Fantasy, because they almost do not pay attention to this, because The focus is the war with all. Rather, all with chaos.
More than thirty years Warhammer Fantasy have saved stories, names, peoples and rules. A week ago Total War: Warhammer based on the last, eighth edition of the setting. The latter in every sense – Games Workshop officially stopped supporting the old world and built a new one on its bones. But we will get there.
The main thing is that Total War: Warhammer, along with future additions and continuations (and Creative Assembly has already stated that they intend to make a trilogy) is a kind of swing song of the world, which at some point was at a timely lost in the shadow of the Real Autonomous Office of Warhammer 40k (we repeat, in no way with the fantasy "Warhammer" not connected, except for millions of hypotheses and several coinciding names). Moreover, this world still has no equal.
We have already written something about Warhammer Fantasy. But how about restoring the overall picture? People, orcs https://sister-site.org/golden-pharaoh-bet/, vampires, chaos, elves, rats, sigmar, slide and Mork … Who are all these people? And what's what is happening?
To roughly imagine the structure of the world, the easiest way to lay it out by the people inhabiting it.
People
Empire – just an empire – the largest country of the Old World. From her position, most of the stories about Warhammer are told, this is such a protagonist state. Once upon a time, it was founded by a man named Sigmar-the local Conan-Warvar, who united many human tribes, made friends with dwarves and broke the Orc Horde in the legendary battle at the Black Fire pass, was crowned with the emperor, ruled half a century, in The process is playing Pink to the hays-people and the undead of the necromancer Nagash, and then he left somewhere. Nobody saw him anymore, but since then Sigmar began to worship like God. Now the Empire is something like a sacred Roman Empire, with the Elector, the Inquisition and the Reix Guard. Emperor Karl Franz rules her – not immortal, unlike the Emperor of mankind from Warhammer 40k, but still cool enough to fly to battle on the griffin.
The second most important human kingdom (and the importance in Warhammer is measured primarily by the presence of its book of armies with a backstory and information about the mechanics of the troops) – Bretonnia. In the early editions of Warhammer, a special emphasis has been placed on the fact that the main feature of Bretonnia is the mossess and decadence, but now it is primarily a country with its kings arthures and knights, but at the same time, it seems, based on our France. And here they worship their lord of the lake, who actually manipulates Bretons to do dirty work for forest elves.
► Kislevsky king Boris, of course, on the bear.
Kislev is Russia. Rather, something between all Slavic states, where it is always cold, there is a bear cavalry and villages with names such as "Kursk". The largest human state extends far in the east – in principle – Katai, drawn (not guessed for anything) from China. Tileya mowing near Italy-several independent cities-states who get along with each other anarchy, but even system. There is its own England, Japan, Arabia and so on. We will not talk about the northern tribes here – these guys go under the banners of chaos.
Elves and dwarves
Unlike the Imperium from Warhammer 40k, the Sigmarov Empire is quite capable of getting along with other races. Elves and dwarves are ordinary allies of people, and all together these three races are closest to traditional fantasy good. With traditional fantasy chips, such as the fact that the elves are good wizards and vile gedonists, and the dwarves are drunk and invent.
But they have purely Varhammer cockroaches. For example, one of the main dvarf relics is a huge book of grievances in which they write down that it is logical, all cases when someone somehow offended them. Did not pay for work – resentment. Incorrectly turned by name – resentment. The dwarves at the old fashioned way are atoned for resentment: with an ax in the forehead. Dvarfs are also popular with the cults of death. When the dwarf loses something important or understands that he has lived his life incorrectly, he puts his hair in the orange Iroquois and goes to look for a fight in which he will be guaranteed to be killed. But here is a paradox: to succumb to dwarves is also not supposed to be, therefore, even running into the troll, they run the risk of going out winners.
► dwarves in themselves are incapable of magic, but are so stubborn that they compact it into things that make it out.
With elves, everything is slightly more complicated simply because they historically divided into three varieties. The dark elves fought off during the Civil War, when their leader Malekit was not allowed to become an elven fenix king (which is characteristic, during the latest events it was established that they were destined for him), and now they swim around the seas, rob everything, worship all in a row. The elven god of war and fire Khein (not to be confused with Khorn), and at times, until no one is looking, lustful Slahany. Forest elves are friends with the evil spirits of the forest, often include the psychopath regime and, in principle, have already come to terms with the fact that Chaos had won, and there is no longer a point in doing anything to do anything. And the highests are just arrogant bastards who gradually die out. But Lawful Good.
► Warhammer Fantasy Rules say that you can take miniatures of one army and play for it like another. Say, the world is large, it is unknown in it, and if you can beautifully explain how you got orcs-vampires, then the flag is in your teeth.
Kings of the tombs
Even when the people of the future empire lived in herbal huts, in the world Warhammer flourished suspiciously similar to our ancient Egypt of the kingdom of Nehhara. It was precisely from here that Nagash came from – the greatest necromancer and the largest asshole in history, from whose presentation all the dead kings of Nebhara rose from their tombs along with the hordes of their limp assistants and began to rule on the now deceased land. So they are now called – kings of tombs. They have Egyptian chariots, fighting sphinxes and in general they are incredibly stylish.
Vampires
The first vampires appeared approximately in the same place as the kings of the tombs, but a little earlier. Ovmptedy court of the queen Nefrates was expelled, and subsequently found a place in the Old World – and it rushed.
It is interesting that vampires in Warhammer, let and guide the lower tenderness, treat people as animals, and generally make a terrible impression, do not necessarily turn out to be hostile to others. There are quite peaceful vampires in the world, which are quietly integrating into society, they are observing their “masquerade” and buy blood in their black markets. And really evil and powerful vampires are fighting not to immerse the world in chaos, but like all normal people – to amuse the ego and aggressive ambitions.
Skavens
Small disgusting rats. Their deity – a horned rat – once punished them to breed and multiply with all their might to capture the world. Since then they have been doing this.
There are a lot of Skavenov, but they are not fools, and surprisingly well -made technically. Almost all of their technique eats from the warp-stone-in fact, chaos in physical form, which, if the treatment, begins to cause irreversible mutations. Skavens, however, managed to put it in their service.
In addition, the Skavens are known for their ninja, bioterrorism, as well as the fact that any meanness is considered a good tone in them. They betray everyone: allies (even nagash from them got large) and each other. Nobody betrayed anyone for a long time? It is time to urgently correct.
Chaos
Chaos is the driving force of almost all the stories by Warhammer. Everyone can fight as much as they like, but in the end, the chaosites will come and finish everyone so that they will have to work together.
The manifestations of chaos are personified by the gods, among which four are distinguished – Tsinchi, Nurla, Slaanesh and Khorn. Sometimes another fifth is attributed here, Malala, but Fantasy is remembered about him in the context once from a hundred, if they are very lucky. And in fact, the gods of chaos are not that evil – they just have specific hobbies! And these hobbies are transferred to what is happening in the world. Khorn – all about rage, war and gutting alive. And the biased Slaanesh, for example, turns people into enchanting perverts. And observes.
► Archaon is the greatest of the leaders of the Chaosites who managed to finish the world of Warhammer.
Mostly northerners are fighting for chaos, similar to the Scandinavians, then the Mongols (in the north they spread out the wasteland, where the influence of chaos is especially large), mutating and dumbfounded beasts that despise civilization in any form, well, demons are not as strong as strong at 40k, but much more numerous. The Arkhaon is the chosen chosita, once a follower of Sigmar, once, once so angry that he switched to the dark side of the force. Like everyone else chosen before him, he is mortal, but about this all for a long time, it seems, have forgotten.
Almost.
Greenfoot
With the orcs, everything is quite simple: chaos carries death with pathos madness, and these simply spend time well. And when they spend the time well, believe me, you will want to be as far as possible from them.
But they are not evil, no! It happened that the green-browned raid on their beloved Kislev, and after some time joyfully broke a detachment of the Chaosites, the same Kislevs besieging. It doesn’t matter to them who to beat – the main thing is that the orcs cannot without a good mess. Otherwise, they will just begin to chop each other. The company is made up of small goblins, on which it is also very convenient to remove rage.
And one of the greatest orchor warriors – Grimgor Zheleznoshkur – was once lucky to fill Archaon alone in order to prove his superiority. It was assumed that in that large plot event (it was called Storm of Chaos), the outcome will be decided after players from around the world send the results of their parties. Chaos lost in most cases. They did not expect such a finals to Games Workshop, but they were forced to follow the reason – ordinary orih Varboss, without straining, defeated the Antichrist and, as a result, the entire army of chaos.
Subsequently, this version of events was recognized as non -canonical. But we remember.
Lizards
Lizards Aztecs riding dinosaurs. Almost organically – the worst enemies of chaos. Once upon a time, the ancient gods created them for a very long time (and in Warhammer, of course, there were also ancient gods), leaving them the instructions of what to do next. The problem is that lizards do not always understand what is written there, and therefore sometimes engage in enchanting stupid things. But they are good.
And their sharanes-huge toads-priests, are not connected with Slaanesh-the strongest magicians in all Warhammer Fantasy, whom the ancients left to look after the world. It turns out not very for them, true.
Ogra
Ogra is sure: the fatter your belly, the stronger you are. Architiraran Gryazus Zlatozub – the greatest of the Ogra leaders – so fat that he has to wear a hundred small goblin -like gnoblars. And all because they like to eat ogra. Despite the fact that they have their own kingdoms, many Ogra prefer to be mercenaries in order to travel a lot and try new food. Often – those whom they have just killed.
Interesting fact: Ogra are responsible for the degeneration of mountain giants. Due to constant culinary raids, the descendants of the once smart people now go dull rough power in the ranks of the green-skinned ones with the trolls.
* * *
For Warhammer, apocalyptic moods are the norm. Wars, plague, ancient prophecies, crazy preachers with their "end is already close!»There were always.
But in Warhammer Fantasy the end still came.
In 2014, Games Workshop launched an extension for the eighth edition called The End Times. What happened there? Briefly: chaos gathered with strength again, hit … and won. Roughly speaking, everyone died, and the world scattered into fragments.
But Sigmar returned, swam along nothing left from the old world, and decided to make a new one. All this resulted in Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. And although there are similar races (even old miniatures can be used – there are separate arches of the rules for them) and many familiar names (for example, orchi gods of the Gorka and Morka united in one camorma, but Nagash remained Nagash), but on the other hand, this is Already a completely different world that the events of Warhammer Fantasy does not take into account. And the rules of the game became others. Much less detailed.
► And also in Age of Sigmar their spacesmarins appeared – just not cosmic and are called eternal borer, and instead of stormballter, they shoot from bolttormers. Seriously.
The motivation of Games Workshop is clear: against the background of Warhammer 40k, the once most important Warhammer Fantasy was absolutely lost, and to delve into it to beginners is completely out of hand. But in the old universe there are too many interesting things left to take so easily to take and get rid of them. Almost all the old fans took on the bayonets, and they can also be understood.
In the summer, however, they promise to update the rules, and it is possible that Age of Sigmar has a future. But even if this story will have a bad end, it does not seem that games on Warhammer fantasy will stop doing. After Vermintide and the last Total War, developers seem to be just starting to taste.
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