Crown of Sorcery
The Crown of Sorcery, also known as the Crown of Nagash is a powerful magical artefact first created and worn by the Great Necromancer. [1a]
History
In -1222 IC having made a truce with the Skaven, Nagash the Necromancer could once more turn his attention to Nehekhara and gathered at the heart of Nagashizzar, those who he had given the Elixir of Life to perform a great ritual of creation using huge quanties of Warpstone to heat a massive furnace. Within it was gromril obtained through trade with the ratmen and this was used to fill twelve obsidian molds, eleven of which were used to create armour. The last was hammered into a circlet into which Nagash poured not only his magic but his own memories and his boundless lust for vengeance and desire to rule over a realm of the dead. The resulting dark crown was ably to magnify his powers a thousandfold. [1a]
In -1151 IC Nagash attempted the Great Ritual but was struck down by the freed King Alcadizzar with the Fellblade. Alcadizzar took the Crown and fled north to Badlands. [5a][5b]
in -1147 IC Kadon, the human shaman, discovered Alcadizzar's corpse and the Crown. Under its influence he founded the civilization of Mourkain, a grim, death-worshipping kingdom which was still but a shadow of Nehekhara under Nagash. Mourkain's existence attracted powerful vampires like Neferata, W'soran and Ushoran who fought each other for control, but the civilization was eventually swept away by an Orc invasion and reduced to ruins. [5a][5b]
In 3 IC Morath, his powers enhanced by the power of the Crown rose from his slumber and began to raise the dead near Middenheim, [2b] taking the title of Lord of Brass Keep. [2a][2b] As he had hoped, Sigmar led an army to confront him but he was, with the aid of Count Pendrag able to resist the power of the Crown and destroyed Morath. He healed Pendrag with its power and took the crown for himself. [2c]
Under the influence of the Crown, Sigmar carried out a brutal campaign of vengeance against the Roppsmenn but fially managed to break its malign influence through Wolfgart and a vision of Ravenna. He discarded it [2d], giving it to the High Priestess of Shallya, Alessa to be sealed in a deep vault. [2e]
Around 2512 IC Orc chieftain named Azhag found the Crown of Sorcery deep in the Troll Country, in the ruined town of Todtheim. The Crown gave him sorcerous powers as well as nightmarish visions and insights uncommon for a Orc. During that year Azhag became a Warboss and united the northern tribes into Waaahg! Azhag and invaded Kislev and the Empire. After Battle of Butcher's Hill he became known as Azhag the Slaughterer. Yet he met his end in 2515 IC at the Battle of Osterwald in the hands of the Knights Panther. The Grand Theogonist recognised the crown as the Crown of Nagash - it was taken to the city of Altdorf and sealed in the Imperial vaults.[4a][4b]
The Helm of The Draesca
After centuries of research into the Crown, W'soran managed to create the Helm, leaving a part of him within it as Nagash had done in his own creation. [3a]
See also
Sources
- 1: Rise of Nagash (anthology) by Mike Lee: Nagash Immortal
- 1a: Chapter Fifteen: The Crown of Nagash, pg. 839-844
- 2: Legend of Sigmar (anthology): Empire (Novel)
- 3: Master of Death (novel)
- 3a: Chapter Nine, pg. 204
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition)
- 5: Warhammer: The Old World Rulebook
