Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Chamber of the Everchosen. We hope you enjoy your visit!


Here at COTEC we are all about the Warriors of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy Battle.

Tactics to help you slaughter your opponent on the tabletop, through to galleries on how to build your next Warshrine. Its all covered... and growing!

We are a forum for gamers and hobbyist alike and again would like to welcome you to a fun, friendly, warm place and hope to see you again!


Join our legion! Takes less than a minute and gives you access to everything!


If you're already a member please log in to your account by entering the correct runes and words of power:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
As Cold As Ice; The Tales of Haggiroth The Slaughterer
Topic Started: Jan 5 2005, 02:57 AM (1,169 Views)
Haggiroth
Member Avatar
Changer of Ways
Prologue

The roaring laughter of drunk Norsemen bellowed through out the great halls of Gyrt, the granite walls gleaming will spilt ale as many men celebrated. 'twas a great day for many a Bjornling, Graeling and Skaeling, for the wife of Tyrek, the Lord of Gyrt, had given birth to a child. Tyrek, at last in his dying days, had a hier. The legends of the Azyrasheks would continue for at least another generation. There were at least ten score joyful warriors cheering their praise within those halls on that day. The blazing bonfire in the middle of the great space provided plenty warm, and all the warriors whad nothing on their mind except to feast and be glad. Then the roar of Tyrek silenced all, as his voice thundered over the hundreds within Gyrt. He raised his hand for silence, even though it already took place. He spoke, his rich voice bounding off every wall and barrier during the delightful ceremony.
"Bjornlings, Graelings, Vards and Aeslings, Baersonling, Sarls and Skaelings..." Each title was rewarded with a hearty cheer from people of those clans. "I welcome ye into the halls of Gyrt, and wish ye the most hospitable of days. Today, my child has be born as predicted, who shall take my place when I leave this world to stand by the side of the Gods... Who shall take my place when I die. May he fare well in his days where I did not, and may he live long and well. Now, my brothers, I ask ye to raise ye mugs one last time, for my son, Haggiroth!"
The thunder of those voices echoed through the halls as they sung their praise for the new Azyrashek.

After the birth of Haggiroth, nothing was the same. The days got worse and colder, the attack of wild Were more frequent and even a few daemons were assulting the great Halls of Gyrt. And Tyrek was loosing his strength as he grew older, soon to die from his grand age of 51. His wife died of disease and his soldiers grew lazy, feasting on the luxuries they earned. It seemed like the Gods were against him ever since that hellborn child was spawned. Both Slaanesh and Nurgle. He would hate to see the day when all the Gods he favoured turned on him. But then something even worse happened. Even though he cared naught for his son, he needed a heir so his glory would never fade. But that heir was soon to die when he reached the age of fourteen, his skin slowly beginning warp, his features twisting and his flesh becoming as cold as ice.... Was Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways also turning against him? Tyrek wept for himself, as no one would continue the tale when he died. But a month later after he predicted his son's death.. A sorcerer arrived at Gyrt and asked for an audience with the chieften, as he knew of ways to keep his son alive.
"Are you sure of this? There is a way to continue the legacy of the Azyrasheks?" Tyrek said, speaking of his family name with pride; he was proud of his ansestors and proud of himself for both his and their acheivements. The sorcerer nodded.
"Indeed.. Though it may need something from you. But I shall keep that to myself for now. It is an extra detail you do... not need to know of." The warchief sighed angrily.
"Just do it."

The preparations took only a few days, as the sorcerer gathered waht was needed from the stocks and from the wilds. He seemed not to care that there were Were roaming around freely. He must think that he was too special to be slaughtered like a dog, just because was more gifted than he. Tyrek spat. Another person he had growing hatred for. But he needed both the sorcerer and his son for his legend to continue... Finally, it was time for the ritual to begin. The sleeping body of Haggiroth was lying inside a tent just outside of Gyrt. Then the sorcerer, who only called himself the Arbiter, spoke.
"The ritual can only take place while you are not watching. Please leave, or you shall not gain the glory you seek when in death." Tyrek was greatly angered by what was said. Why should he risk his legacy just so the Arbiter could have a bit of privacy with his son? But he sighed. Better to risk his legacy than let it plummet into the depths of Hell. He left the tent and sat outside for what seemed to be an eternithy as he guarded the tent, which was in reality two hours. Finally, the being emerged, motioning for Tyrek to enter. Hastily, the warlord obeyed, grinning. Looks like he had hope after all.
And there was his son, sitting up and staring at his hands as if he just came out of a daze. Tyrek rushed to him, speaking as he put on an expression of great joy.
"Haggiroth! You are alive!" The boy smiled mildly at him as Tyrek moved forward to embrace him. And then Haggiroth spun around when his father got closer, a red stream of blood gushing out of Tyrek's throat as the sword in his son's sliced through the air, severing the head of the warchief from his neck. The child replied.

"I am. But you are no longer"

The Gods had turned against Tyrek. Nurgle took the life of his wife, Slaanesh took the loyalty of his soldiers, Tzeentch took away his wisdom with trickery and Khorne took his skull. And his legacy faded like smoke in a breeze.



Chapter 1: A Good Hunt

Ten years later after the death of Tyrek, the snow was still blisteringly cold. The halls of Gyrt were abandoned, the fort's thatch roof destroyed, its granite walls descrated with the insane scrawlings of those who remained. Everyone who lived within the halls were massacred. Their skeletons littered the floor and the walls, plastered to surfaces with dried blood and ale. Haggiroth left no fool alive when he departed from that land.

However, several hundred leagues North, in the territory of the Kvelligs tribe, a small family of four Rhinox were on a stampede, roaring loudly in terror as they ran, one of the beasts, that was apparently premature, was lagging behind. Then, something arced through the air. A gigantic sphere of flame fell down through the air, smashing into the snow in front of the young Rhinox, earth and ice exploding into its face. It roared in pain and terror, shuddering to a halt and shaking off the snow that blinded it, its herd leaving it there, not knowing what they left behind. Then something sharp sliced down deep into the back of the creature, piercing its thick hide and digging hard into its spine, severing it. The creature roared once more in pain before collapsing to its side, dying ever so slowly. A man leapt of its back, licking the blood off the blade in his hand before sheathing it, he was young, about twenty, with a large cloak of wolf-fur protecting him from the cold. Then another man emerged, more elderly yet walking with pride, a staff in his hand. He also had a wolf fur cloak protecting him from a cold. He walked up to the younger man, patting his back and chuckling.

"Well done, Haggiroth. An excellent hunt. We shall feast well for many days." The younger man did not speak, examining the creature. Finally, he turned to the old sorcerer and spoke.
"We'll be making camp here tonight, Arbiter. I doubt neither of us could move this creature. Where do we go next?" This was all spoken without emotion or eye contact as the warrior began to strip the creature of its hide. The sorcerer sighed and took a large sack off his back, taking out various cooking and skinning instruments, and the items needed to make a tent for the night. He picked up a pole and pierced the tundra with it, gritting his teeth before doing the same with more, building the tent. He spoke, pausing as he dug in the tent poles.
"We need to go West... Where those cursed Druchii live... Not so far into their lands... Just an unreasonable distance close." Haggiroth laughed at this, smiling. It had been so long since he had seen any form of civilisation. He might actually enjoying seeing a figure of some intelligence other than the Arbiter or himself.

The young warrior looked down, and for a moment stop his skinning, his eyes tracing the floor... He saw tracks. Not those of the Rhinox but some underneath those, that were lucky not the get squashed. Large hooves, like those of rams and oxen... Except there were only two hooveprints per creature, he could tell. There were at least a dozen also, going in the same direction as the Rhinox, and as they would. He was snapped out of his trance by the Arbiter.
"What are you doing there sitting like a fool, boy? Aren't you meant to be skinning the runt!?" Haggiroth nodded and countinued. After half an hour, the Rhinox was robbed of everything that might have been use to the duo, bones, organs, fat and meat. They began to hold another conversation as they roasted some of the meat. Haggiroth spoke first.
"So, sorcerer... Is there any obstacle that lies ahead that you can see? Anything in that forest prehaps?" He motioned into the distance, where pine trees could be seen faintly through the falling snow. The Arbiter shook his head. "Nay. No obstacle lies there that I know of. Anyway, for tonight, I shall be the first to watch." Haggiroth nodded.
"Fine, if that is what you want."

Shortly they had eaten, the Arbiter sat just at the entrance of the tent while Haggiroth slept lightly. A secretive smirk could be seen on the face of the lying sorcerer. He prodded a few more branches into the fire with his staff, before returning to watch. However, he did not seem to notice just two things. The odd, horned figure just standing in the fringes of the forest and the deep bleat that came from its throat.

Wild animals wouldn't be the only thing that could visit them on that night.



Chapter 2: Black Sheep... or Bull.

Haggiroth was awoken just before midnight, hearing some odd sounds in the night. Deep bleating and grunting in the distance, too strong for that of any livestok. The boy picked up his mundane blade from the carpet inside the tent, walking towards the opening, to find the Arbiter had dosed off. The old fool! He should have his head hacked from his shoulders for such idiotics! However, Haggiroth dared not, for the Gods may turn on him. Slowly, he began to progress into the night then suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Something a small distance ahead in the forest had moved. And then, an axe soared through the air towards his torso, aimming to cleave his stomach open. Haggiroth roared, jumping to his side as the rusty, cumbersome weapon flew over him, embedding itself in the snow a short distance from him. He began to stand up again, his eyes becoming used to the twilight very quickly. Another axe was thrown but Haggiroth need not worry. It landed a distance of five feet away from him. He spoke, his voice echoing around the tundra.
"I am Haggiroth! Whatever you may be, emerge from the forests so we may fight face to face! Or are you such cowards that you cannot stand being in close combat with a true warrior?" He smirked as loud bleatings came from the forest. At least these bovines seemed to understand Common. Even though he did not understand this strange tongue. And with that, shadows darted from between the trees, towards his position.

He could make out their features as they rushed towards him. They were covered in brown hair of beasts, while their build was like that of a human. Horns of rams, goats and bulls stuck out of their temples while some merely had tiny stubs instead of proud horns. Instead of feet, they had cloven hooves. Then the largest of them emerged from the forest. A gigantic bull creature, with the build of a large ogre. Its eyes were blood red, its fur as black as the night itself, and its horns were those of a bull. Slowly, the beastmen began to make a circle around him, armed mainly with axes, flails and maces, all sorts of brutish weapons. The minotaur had a massive maul in its arms. Soon, a ring was formed around Haggiroth and the minotaur, the Doombull. They didn't expect him to fight this monstrosity, did they? This couldn't have been the idiot throwing the axes. He turned his head to call for the sleep sorcerer for help but already, the Doombull was lunging towards him.

Haggiroth snarled, diving out of the way as the hammer thundered through the air, nearly smashing into one of the beastmen, an Ungor. He stood up again, unable to see the hammer speed towards his again, his back to the bull. He was thrown several feet, the wind knocked from him, his spine shaken and his vision blurring. Was he expected to win against this? No. He wasn't. Exactly the reason why the minotaur was chosen to fight him. He began to stand up, the beast lumbering towards him, hammer raised high above its head. It attempted to squash him with it, but he rolled to the side, and span around, sword flashing into his hand and slashing into the creature's hamstring. The clumsy monster collapsed, letting out a roar of pain. A second later, Haggiroth leaped into the air above the beast, and stabbed down deep into its torso. He pulled out the blade once he was done, the creature not moving. He grinned.
"Looks like i've won after all, you wretched creatures." He licked the blood off the blade, still smirking. And in anger, some charged. In terror, others fled. But as the beasts charged, a flaming skull flew cackling threw the air towards several, exploding and incinerating each and every one of them. Now all the Beastmen turned to flee, as the Arbiter had awoke, sending burning death in the direction of the Beasts.
"Looks like you did a fine job with the Doombull, my boy." Haggiroth snorted at the words on the elderly man.
"Yes. And you slept on watch. I should have your head for that." The sorcerer glared at him, his eyes narrowing.
"And I should have your head for saying that, child." Haggiroth began to walk back towards the tent, inside and past the Arbiter.
"Sometimes I wonder why you bother to keep me alive, old man. Why don't you just get rid of me?"

The Arbiter didn't answer. He returned to the entrance of the tent to watch in case the Beastmen came back. And this time, he didn't fall asleep.



Chapter 3: Roast Beef

The day after the raid of their camp, the journey finally continued for Haggiroth and the Arbiter. There were two paths they could take. One leading into the great forest inhabited by the Beastmen, another being a safer, but longer road. Haggiroth groaned inwardly. Why was the sorcerer throwing him right into the face of trouble all of the time? Maybe he should kill the idiot some day. Some day soon, hopefully. They slowly entered the forest, beginning to traverse its haunted depths, hearing distant bleats and sounds of creatures running along the tainted earth, hoofed creatures. Sometimes they even saw the distant head of an ungor staring at them through the under-growth. They were definately seen by now, and were walking into nothing but a trap. Bot for now, they would just have to wait for it to spring. The wizard was walking along casually, as if nothing was ever the matter in this God-forsaken land, despite knowing they were being watched. Haggiroth moved towards him, whispering. But still, his voice echoed through out the forest even at such a volume.
"Why did you suggest this path, old man? It will lead to nothing but our deaths, our utter obliteration! We do not belong here!" The Arbiter jabbed his staff behind him into the stomach of Haggiroth.
"Stop your whining, boy. They have seen what we can do. They will not attack." Haggiroth offered a snort at what the man just said.
"You expect beasts like these to let us pass through the forest, not hindering us? These are not your average cattle, Arbiter! I do not even know what these beasts are!" Their voices were getting louder, their pace slower. And that was when an odd noise approached... A horn. But not that of Beastmen.

They both quietened down, standing on the same spot. The bleatings were far more distant now, mixed in with the roars of minotaurs and shouts of men, who sounded nearly too fair to be men. Suddenly, something soared through the air, nearly taking off Haggiroth's ear it was so close to him. He turned behind him to see where the object when and plucked an arrow from the wall. It was nearly flawless in design, with odd patterns on it. The Arbiter however snatched it from him, examining it.
"Hm. Wood Elves. As I thought. I knew there were a few Norse tribes of the creatures around but never Hung. I say we stay back for now until the fight is finished." However, Haggiroth wouldn't have that. As careful as he usually was, he never saw elves before and was quite curious to their appearance... He slowly began to wade through the bushes towards where the sound. The Arbiter tried to snatch at him, to stop his proggression but failed. "Haggiroth! Where are you going you foolish boy!?"
"To watch the fight, maybe join it. I have never seen or fought elves before." The Arbiter's face began to go red.
"Are you insane!? You would be slaughtered during the massacre!" But Haggiroth wasn't listening anymore. He was at the edge of a clearing, behind a bush and watching the fight. It was quite the spectacle.

What looked like extremely fair and lithe men were battling the beast with amazing skill, cutting them down with odd, thin blades and piercing their skulls with arrows! More minotaurs were present, two of them lying on the floor dead and the other five still alive. Haggiroth knew where the missing member of the eight was. He killed it. But what was more amazing than the elves themselves, there appeared to be living trees! Average sized men and women made out of bark and wood, and a gigantic tree of oak and pine apparently brought to life, picking up beasts and crushing them in its bare hands! This was absolutely amazing! The creature's killing spree continued until a rather sly and cunning Gor behind it had grabbed a torch from a recently slain elf, throwing it directly at the back of the treeman. The large wooden creature was set aflame, hitting wildly at the air around it and attempting to put out the flame, but to no avail. It fell towards a minotaur that was about to cut down one of its legs, crushing it under its burning form. Haggiroth couldn't resist a chuckle and a sly remark.
"Roast beef." The Arbiter couldn't help but snicker, trying to stifle going into a fit of laughter. But all humour was ended when he felt some sharp in his back and slowly turned to find a host of five elves, with arrows notched and aimmed at their heads. One of them, possibly the leader, spoke.
"Well. What is this? Two servants of Chaos, not helping their little beastmen friends!?" Haggiroth tried to reply but he was cut off.
"Still thy tongue, human. You will be coming with us when the battle is done. I think the Forest Lord will want to know of our victory and our captives. Who know, we might be rewarded." It was true. The elves were overwhelming their larger adversaries, who began to flee. The Arbiter sighed angrily.

"I told you we shouldn't have come here, you foolish boy."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rogge_85
Member Avatar
Anti spammer
Really good story man.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Haggiroth
Member Avatar
Changer of Ways
Thanks dude.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Whitethunder500
Member Avatar
Insane until further notice.
The Anti-spammer wasn't joking ;)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
daemonic badger
Member Avatar
Feaster of Pain and Pleasure
great, quite long, but i read it and im looking forward to reading more
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Flying Beaver
Member Avatar
Clanlord
That was very good! I can't wait to see the story continue!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Haggiroth
Member Avatar
Changer of Ways
Thank you. I usually post a chapter every now and again. This is the three chapters I have done and prologue mashed into one piece.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
snyggejygge
Member Avatar
High Zar of Khorne

Nice story. Almost as long as mine I guess. I prefer the long detailed ones, as long as it itsnīt details of no importance so that the story gets boring.

Velcome to the forum!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Flying Beaver
Member Avatar
Clanlord
Do you intend to play in Legacy of the Ancients? Even if not, I suggest you learn the fluff for it cause most of the fluff here is based on it!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Haggiroth
Member Avatar
Changer of Ways
I already submitted a battle of my own so I guess I am in.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Flying Beaver
Member Avatar
Clanlord
What god are you playing as? I'm going to guess it's undivided?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Haggiroth
Member Avatar
Changer of Ways
Undivided and Tzeentch. Mainly Undivided for this Campaign.. I played against a Khorne player. Did decent, it was a minor victory for myself.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Haggiroth
Member Avatar
Changer of Ways
Chapter 4: Out of the frying pan...

Instantly, instead of being killed which Haggiroth had been suspecting, their heads were covered with bags which blinded them. The material was tightened roughly around their necks, making sure they couldn't take them off. And finally, their hands were bonded behind their backs. They were roughly pushed along, and the rumours Haggiroth had heard about the gentle, yet amazing elves, seemed to be complete crap. The Arbiter, even though he could not be seen at the time, was obviously angry. He didn't want any of this to happen but what could an old man do to stop a young man like Haggiroth? Burn him to ashes for one thing, but not at a time like now. Not with his hand tied behind himself. They were led on for what seemed like an eternity of being blind, before finally they were shoved into what felt like a wooden wall, the bags over their heads loosened and taken off, but their bonds remaining. And, in a few seconds time, the door closed. Haggiroth didn't even have time to see outside their room. But still, the mere room he was in was enough to make him gasp. A ceiling of branches covered his head. The walls seemed to be made out of bark, as if they were trapped in a tree, and odd, magestic lights hang from branches sticking out from the ceiling and the walls. The Arbiter blanched at the sight which seemed horribly to him.
"Ugh. The ways of the elves always seem to disgust me. So beautiful and clean. Ah well. Time to kill some." Haggiroth was amazed. How did this idiotic man beleive he could kill a snotling at a time like this? But then he saw. Flames sparked from his hands, burning away his bonds with ease, somehow missing his own flesh. Soon, they were both free, and with a ball of fire thrown at the door, they made their way out and into the corridor.

The corridor seemed to be a long, thin tunnel, structured by roots and nature, more twisted laterns sticking out from the earth which refused to cave in on their heads. A pair of elves were lying on the floor, both crushed by the door. Haggiroth picked upa sword from the corpse, grinning as he waved it about. The Arbiter took his staff from his back, and slowly they made their way along. Already, elves were rushing towards the area, alerted bythe explosion. About ten were filed ahead of them, running towards them in pair of two. How ironic, Haggiroth thought, to be killed by a weapon used by your comrade. And he charged into the frey, slicing up from between an elf's legs, cleaving him in half before spinning around with his sword and beheading another. This was better than his own! Looks like he had a new weapon! And then suddenly, a loud cackling came from behind him as a flaming, insane skull flew above the heads of the elves, before plummeting into them and exploding, sending limbs and bodies flying. The Arbiter killed those enemy and then some more, by burning away the wall rapidly. They began to sprint along the corridor, hacking elves and cracking skulls. The narrow hallways snaked through the odd tree fortress, making the humans easily lost. The more spells the Arbiter cast, the more fires appeared and the faster they would suffocate, seeing the smoke above their heads. When they were about give hope and lie down, there were fair voices coming from one of the rooms, except more rich and ebbing with command. They found what they were looking for. It was time to end this charrade.

They entered, away from the blazing corridors and into a large glade with walls of trees with smooth, bronze bark, towering high above them like titans of the forest. Before them stood a large host of elves, prehaps thirty with two standing behind them, on thrones of roots and fertile vines. Oe was a man, clad in armour with a bow in his hands and sword on his back, another a staff in her hands, obviously the sorcerer of this more powerful man, who was clad in odd armour. He began a conversation.
"What are you men of Chaos doing here? You have no right to invade our territory with your beastmen, infidels!" Haggiroth tried to protect but was nearly instantly cut off by the Arbiter, who was replying to this out-rage. Prehaps he had a bad past with these elves of the North?
"I am the Arbiter and this is Haggiroth, now who are you to ask so much of us. These forests belong to no one, and if they do, it is the Gods of Chaos, not you. Now let us pass or we shall burn this precious glade as well as your little cavern to the ground." The Forest Lord stood up, outraged by such a man.
"Who do you think you are, Arbiter? The forests belong to the elves if anyone, not your hidious Go-" The old wizard interuptted him, tutting.
"I am exactly who you said I am. I am the Arbiter. I am the Judge, Jury and Executioner. Anyone who is not worthy is judged guilty of being weak, and their pushiment is death. You are guilty, Forest Lord. And we are your executioners." The Wood Elf was going bright red now, crimson to be exact.
"Guards! End their miserable lives!" And with that... The battle began.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
end of mankind
Member Avatar
Clanlord
nice! I would like to see how they save theirselves out of this one..
this haggiroth seems like a promising guy indeed.. do you plan on fluffing him into the campaign or will you only participate in the campaign by posting battles?

maybe you can even think up another character for the campaign!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Flying Beaver
Member Avatar
Clanlord
That last sentence kind of ruins the battle that will come next. Other than that good story!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Fiction · Next Topic »
Add Reply