Naggarond
Naggarond (meaning "Tower of Cold") is the capital city of Naggaroth, the realm of the Dark Elves. [1a]
It is considered the most evil city in the world and is the most mighty and oldest of all the cities of the Dark Elves. [1a][3a]
History
Following the Sundering, the newly created Black Arks travelled across the seas to the cold lands of Naggaroth and Malekith's own ark grounded on the shore to provide a stronghold. He led his people in hunts that claimed many deer and mammoths although predators from these lands in turn also took hundreds of elves. The surrounding moutains were found to be rich in minerals but mundane skills of building, metalworking and farming were in short supply so the first great slave raids were launched. [2a]
In -2722 IC[2b], Primitive humans were brought from the Old World and set to work at constructing a city, herding cattle and raising crops and Naggarond began to rise, every year seeing its dark towers growing taller. [2a]
During the Season of Decadence in 2452, the city was invaded by Daemons led by N'kari forcing Malekith to confront the Keeper of Secrets himself. Following the Greater Daemons defeat, the Witch King offered the headless corpse to Atharti. [3b]
Description
Its black stone walls rise a hundred feet from the ground and set within them are four vast gateways with doors of iron fifty feet high. Above the walls are set a hundred towers, which rise as high above the walls as the walls rise from the rock. From these towers fly the banners of the Witch King. Spikes on the battlements display severed heads of those sacrificed upon the altars of Khaine whilst the skins of those flayed alive in the god's honour hang from the walls. [1a][2c][3a]
The city is shrouded in a perpetual pall of sacrificial smoke that rises from the burning altars of Khaine, the God of Murder. Upon these altars the Hag Queens tear Men and Elves apart. They pluck beating hearts from living bodies and pull entrails from bellies and burn them in the sacrificial flame of the God of murder. In the temples of Khaine blood flows night and day, and more honour Khaine with their deaths than anywhere else except perhaps the city of Har Ganeth itself, where even the pavement is stained with blood.[1a][2c]
Locations
Inside its walls the city rises higher and higher
- Barracks of the Black Guard: All of their needs are catered for by slaves so they can spend days and nights perfecting their skills, butchering slaves. [2c]
- Black Tower: A maze of palaces, fortifications and towers where the favoured nobles of the city live. [3a]
- Tower of the Witch King: At its pinnacle stands the tower of the Witch King, the Dark Lord of Naggarond, formerly Malekith once heir to the Phoenix throne. From this tower the Witch King rules his domain with a will of iron. His tower rises high above the city and from it spring battlements and lesser towers, for it is a great and impregnable fortress in its own right. It is said that the sorcerous power of Malekith is so far-reaching that it allows him to look out upon the whole world from his tower, his gaze drawn to whatever pleases his malicious intent. The far-off scrutiny can destroy the mind of any man and cause his flesh to fall from his bones. He watches his armies ride to war, and sees the dark-clad messengers scurry about his land. His gaze pierces even the protective mists of magic surrounding Ulthuan, which he looks upon with ardent hatred. [1a][3a]
- Chamber of the Black Council: A vaulted roof hidden by shadows is set high above a single huge slab of obsidian formed into a table surrounded by a hundred chairs constructed with flayed skin and bone, a number of which aer still held by withered corpses. The iron throne of Malekiths sits at the head of the table.
- Tower of the Witch King: At its pinnacle stands the tower of the Witch King, the Dark Lord of Naggarond, formerly Malekith once heir to the Phoenix throne. From this tower the Witch King rules his domain with a will of iron. His tower rises high above the city and from it spring battlements and lesser towers, for it is a great and impregnable fortress in its own right. It is said that the sorcerous power of Malekith is so far-reaching that it allows him to look out upon the whole world from his tower, his gaze drawn to whatever pleases his malicious intent. The far-off scrutiny can destroy the mind of any man and cause his flesh to fall from his bones. He watches his armies ride to war, and sees the dark-clad messengers scurry about his land. His gaze pierces even the protective mists of magic surrounding Ulthuan, which he looks upon with ardent hatred. [1a][3a]
- Walls: The outer defensive walls of the city rise as much as 100 feet high. [3a]
Symbols
The gauntlet and crescent moon is often used as the emblem of Naggarond. [4a]
The cities of the Dark Elves | |
Naggarond - Hag Graef - Clar Karond - Ghrond - Har Ganeth - Karond Kar |
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition)
- 1a: History of the Dark Elves, pg. 9
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (8th Edition)
- 4: White Dwarf October 2013
- 4a: Reading the Runes: Dark Elf transfer sheet, pg. 147